Messi Determined To Win A Trophy With Argentina Before Retirement

By Joshua Walters

Lionel Messi has left ajar his ambitions going into the Copa America as he reveals how eager he is to win something with the national team.

The Barcelona forward, who ended his eight-month sabbatical leave from the national team in international friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco, insists he is not thinking of retiring anytime soon as he wants to win something with the La Albiceleste before he hangs up his boots.

"The day I don't enjoy it anymore I won't play anymore," he said in an interview with Fox Sports in Argentina.

"But right now I love training and matches, like I did when I was a kid.

"I want to retire having won something with Argentina and I'll keep trying to win something.

"I'm another member of the group with the national team, I said that to the coach when I arrived."

He also reflected on Barcelona and the disappointing end to the season in Catalonia.

"The Liverpool match was a tragedy," he said.

"We made silly errors and they were ahead of us in terms of desire and attitude."

Messi, aside expressing his hopes and ambitions for the Copa America, opened up on the latest on his teammate Luis Suarez who after surgery missed out on the Copa del Ray finals against Valencia last week.

"People criticised Suarez recently, saying that he went for surgery as he'd prefer to play in the Copa America than in the Copa del Rey final

“But the reality is that he has had knee pain for a long time and that there was a moment after the Liverpool game when he couldn't play on anymore because it had gotten worse.

"So the only thing he could do was to have the operation, he didn't chose to."

However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been unsuccessful at the national side having lost four major cup finals with the side.