Messi’s ‘retirement’ was PR move: Maradona

Lionel Messi’s bleached blond hairdo wasn’t the only crisis the star soccer player went through this summer. If you’ll recall, the 29-year-old shocked the world by announcing his retirement from the Argentine national squad right after losing to Chile in the Copa America Centenario final.

Messi’s departure didn’t last very long. More than a month later, the Barcelona striker was back with the team, allowing most Argentine fans to breathe a sigh of relief.

Except for Messi’s former coach and outspoken soccer legend Diego Maradona, who instead of rejoicing suggested Messi’s short-lived retirement was a savvy PR move.

“Maybe his retirement was staged to make us forget about the three final losses,” Maradona said via Argentina’s TyC Sports, referring to the Centenario final, the 2015 Copa America final and the 2014 World Cup final.

If Messi knew he’d soon be back when he announced his retirement on June 26, the tactic certainly worked. Instead of facing a proverbial firing squad of questions about his latest failure to bring a title to Argentina, the father of two instead was met with sympathy. Fans lamented the loss of Messi much more than the team’s loss to Chile.

Messi, of course, has maintained his decision to temporarily retire was based on unbridled emotion stemming from the loss.

“A lot of things ran through my head on the day of the (Copa America Centenario) final. And I seriously considered leaving the team,” the player said in a statement announcing his comeback on Aug. 12.