Elvio Paolorosso, who worked as a physical fitness specialist in the coaching staff of the Argentine national team, remembered the nightmare Lionel Messi had to go through after a very painful defeat in the 2016 "Copa America" final.
In that year, the Argentine national team lost to the Chilean national team in the final match. The winner was determined after a penalty shootout, and Messi himself missed one of the penalties.
After the final, Messi even announced his retirement from the national team. Paolorosso, who worked in the coaching staff, confirmed that it was very difficult for the forward to come to terms with this failure.
"At around 2 AM, I went to a warehouse where I found Lionel Messi all alone. He was crying so hard, as if he had just lost his mother," the coach said.
"He was 'disconnected' and no one could talk to him. Later, I hugged him and we both started crying together.
"I worked with Leo both in the Argentine national team and in Barcelona. Throughout all that time we were together, I can only express my utmost gratitude to him. He always spoke warmly, no matter how things were going on the field," added E. Paolorosso.
