Argentine football legend Diego Maradona and the country's President Mauricio Macri urge Lionel Messi not to leave the national team despite his vow to quit after a humiliating defeat.

Sergio Aguero and other Argentina players could follow the lead of captain Lionel Messi and retire from international football after losing the final of the Copa America on penalties to Chile for the second straight year.

Lionel Messi cut a deeply dejected figure after his miss in the penalty shootout contributed to Argentina's defeat by Chile in the Copa America final.

Lionel Messi sensationally announces his retirement from international football after Argentina crashed to an upset defeat against Chile in the final of the Copa America.

Chile face Argentina in Sunday's Copa America final for the right to call themselves South America's dominant team but perhaps an even bigger question for football fans the world over regards whether Lionel Messi can finally win a major international title.

Lionel Messi will bid to gild his legacy as the greatest footballer of his generation here Sunday by ending Argentina's 23-year wait for a major title in a dream final against holders Chile in the Copa America Centenario.

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino on Thursday names part of his squad for the Rio Olympics but superstar Lionel Messi is not included after being chosen for the Copa America instead.

Lionel Messi blasts the Argentina Football Association, calling it a "disaster," after the national team's plane from Houston was delayed on Thursday.

Angel Di Maria looks set to miss out on the Copa America Centenario final against Chile after the Argentina star suffered a recurrence of his adductor injury.

Barcelona are not contemplating selling their Brazil forward Neymar, the Spanish champions' financial vice-president Susana Monje said on Wednesday.

Argentina will be without Ezequiel Lavezzi in the Copa America final after he broke his left elbow in the second half of his team's 4-0 semifinal win against the United States on Tuesday.

Lionel Messi was too much for the United States to contain, as Argentina beat Jurgen Klinsmann's team 4-0 to reach the Copa America final.

Prior to the start of the Copa America, United States coach Juergen Klinsmann had set the semi-finals as a target but will now need a new goal as the hosts prepare to take on top-ranked Argentina for spot in the final.

Argentina cruise to an easy 3-0 win versus Bolivia on Tuesday to secure top honours in Group D with three wins from three matches at the Copa America Centenario.

Lionel Messi scores a breathtaking second-half hat trick upon his return as Argentina qualify for the Copa America Centenario quarterfinals courtesy of a 5-0 demolition of 10-man Panama in Group D on Friday.

Lionel Messi is subjected to individual exercises once more on Tuesday as he continues his recovery from the back injury that ruled him out of Argentina's 2-1 Copa America win over Chile.

Neymar could follow FC Barcelona fellow star Lionel Messi to court after Spanish prosecutors asked for the Brazilian striker to be tried over his murky multi-million-euro transfer to the Catalan giants.

Argentina shrug off the absence of Lionel Messi to beat Chile 2-1 in the Copa America on Monday, with an emotional Angel Di Maria scoring the opening goal and dedicating it to his grandmother, who passed away before the game.

Argentina shrug off the injury absence of Lionel Messi to launch their Copa America Centenario campaign with a 2-1 defeat of defending champions Chile.

Lionel Messi trains alone on Saturday as Argentina continue their preparations for their Copa America Centenario opener against Chile.