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BUENOS AIRES. — Hundreds of Argentines protested in the pouring rain on Saturday, demanding that soccer star Lionel Messi return to Argentina’s national team after he unexpectedly quit following a loss in the regional Copa America final. Messi, a five-time World Player of the Year, has played in three Copa America finals, in 2007, 2015, and 2016, as well as in the 2014 World Cup final, losing every time. During the finals match with rival Chile last week, he missed Argentina’s opening penalty in the shoot-out after the game ended 0-0 and was in tears sitting near the team dugout.

“I think this is it. It’s over for me on the team,” he said after the match. Waving banners that lauded Messi in superlative terms, fans begged the star to don the national squad’s iconic blue and white stripes once again. — Reuters.