Argentine field hockey legend Luciana Aymar hopes Lionel Messi will rethink his retirement from international football.
The Albiceleste captain decided to call it a day with the national team after missing a penalty in Sunday's Copa America shootout defeat with Chile.
Messi has now competed in four finals with his nation without a win, and affirmed after the latest defeat that "the national team is finished for me."
But Aymar, who was dubbed the "Maradona of field hockey" due to her dribbling skills, hopes to see him back one day.
"We know that football in this country is a game of huge fanaticism, us Argentines carry our passion in our blood and that is honestly what I love," the now-retired idol wrote on her Instagram page.
El fútbol en este país sabemos se vive con gran fanatismo, los argentinos llevamos en la sangre el ser muy pasionales y eso sinceramente es lo que más me gusta . Claro está sin excesos de manera controlada, ni la sobrevaloración ni la catástrofe, extremismos que no llevan a ningún lado. Tenemos grandes jugadores y técnicos de eso no hay ninguna duda y seguramente cuando bajen las pulsaciones vendra el momento para el analisis que hará que las cosas se acomoden en su justo punto. Criticar en este momento a los que salen a representarnos en la cancha o al mejor del mundo no es justo . Al contrario aprendamos disfrutarlo , disfrutemos de tener al mejor del planeta , al que todos querrian tener, no sabemos cuánto más puede jugar y es nuestro y quiere ser nuestro. Ahora si necesita descansar que lo haga, si necesita pensar que piense, dejémoslo vivir y hacer lo que sienta y quiera. Esta claro que como deportista y fanatica de este tremendo jugador yo siempre voy a querer verlo con la camiseta celeste y blanca verlo hacer todas esas genialidades y cosas diferentes que sólo el puede hacer. Este es un momento para darle tiempo y tranquilidad y que él decida que quiere hacer . #messi
Una foto publicada por Lucha (@aymarlucha) el28 de Jun de 2016 a la(s) 7:47 PDT
"Obviously without excess, in a controlled fashion, without exaggerations nor catastrophes, those are extreme emotions that won't take us anywhere. We have great players and coaches, there is no doubt about it, and I am sure that when his pulse slows down the time will come for an analysis that will make things sit right.
"It is not fair to criticise those who go out and represent our country on the pitch, or the best in the world. On the contrary: let's learn to enjoy it, enjoy having the best player on the planet, the guy everyone would die to have, we don't know how much longer he can player, he is ours and wants to be ours.
"Now if he needs to rest let him, if he needs to think let him think, let him live and do as he feels and wishes. It is clear that as a sportswoman and fanatic of this brilliant player I always want to him with the Argentina shirt, see him do all those wonderful, unique things only he can do.
"This is a moment to give him time and peace, and let him decide what he wants to do #Messi." - Goal