里奥•梅西站在美国新泽西州大都会体育馆的点球线前，目光锁定脚下的足球，神情严肃，眉头紧蹙。随后，他两步助跑左脚发力抽射。随着守门员向右方俯冲，球向左边飞去——点球射飞。
That was one of the fatal missteps that determined the final match of this year’s Copa America on June 26. Chile beat Argentina 4-2 on penalty kicks, after Messi and his Argentine teammate Lucas Biglia both failed to land their shots in the goal.
6月26日，这一重大失误决定了今年美洲杯决赛结果。梅西和他的阿根廷队友卢卡斯•比格利亚双双点球失利，智利最终在点球大战中以4-2击败阿根廷。
It was a *devastating defeat for Messi, Argentina’s team captain. It was his third *consecutive near-miss at winning a major international tournament, since losing to Germany at the 2014 World Cup final.
对于阿根廷足球队队长梅西而言，这是一次毁灭性的打击。自2014年世界杯决赛输给德国队以来，这是他连续第三次与重大国际性赛事胜利擦肩而过。
The 29-year-old, five-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner announced his intention to quit the national team after the game. “I’ve tried a lot to be champion with Argentina. It didn’t happen, I couldn’t do it,” a crestfallen Messi said.
赛后，这位29岁的五届金球奖得主宣布想要离开国家队。“为了带领阿根廷成为冠军，我尝试了很多，但都没有实现，我做不到，”挫败沮丧的梅西说道。
In the past, Argentina, a traditional soccer powerhouse, has won the World Cup twice and the Copa America 14 times. But the country has been unable to bring home a single international title since Messi joined its team, though Messi is generally acknowledged to be one of the world’s best soccer players.
过去，作为传统的足球强队，阿根廷曾2次赢得世界杯，14次赢得美洲杯。尽管梅西是世界公认的最棒的足球运动员之一，但自从他加入国家队以来，这个国家再没获得过一个国际性比赛冠军。
Team Argentina was under considerable pressure to win, as the whole nation seemed to be yearning for a Copa victory. A win in the final would have given Argentina its first championship in 23 years. Even Argentinean soccer legend Diego Maradona jokingly sent a message to the team: “Win or don’t come back!”
现如今，全国似乎都在渴望着一个美洲杯冠军，阿根廷队为此承受了巨大压力。决赛胜利将会给阿根廷带来23年来的第一个冠军。就连阿根廷的足球传奇迭戈•马拉多纳也给球队发去一条玩笑消息：“要么赢，要么就别回来！”
Now that the team has choked in a final yet again, Messi’s legacy as its captain is thrown into question. Messi has long competed with Maradona for the title of Argentina’s top soccer player. But his *detractors point out that Messi *cracks under pressure, and Maradona doesn’t. Take the 1986 World Cup for example: Maradona sank two historic goals in the quarterfinals against Argentina’s longtime rival England, before leading his team to win the tournament. His performance that year is widely considered the best in history.
由于球队在决赛中再次受阻，梅西作为队长一职也再度遭受质疑。一直以来，梅西和马拉多纳都是阿根廷最佳足球运动员的热门竞争人选。但是梅西的批评者认为梅西的抗压能力不敌马拉多纳。以1986年世界杯为例，马拉多纳在四分之一决赛中打入2个历史性的进球，带领阿根廷队击败老对手英格兰队，赢得淘汰赛。他那一年的表现被公认为是历史上最好的。
Messi has had proud moments wearing the blue-and-white Argentine jersey. He is the country’s top scorer, with 55 goals, while playing for the national team. If not for Messi, Argentina might not have made it to so many finals in the last three years. But that’s little *consolation for the soccer superstar. In the world of competitive sports, the winner takes all.
梅西也有过身着阿根廷队蓝白球衣的骄傲时刻。在为国家队效力期间，他是整个国家最顶级的得分手，打入55个进球。过去的三年中，如果没有梅西，阿根廷队未必能进入这么多决赛。但一名足球巨星绝不满足于此，在竞争如此激烈的当下，成王败寇是不争的事实。
Messi’s talent is undeniable. With the Spanish soccer club FC Barcelona, he has been nothing but a huge success. He has led the club to eight Spanish titles and four Champions League trophies, as its core player.
梅西的天赋是不可否认的。效力于西班牙巴塞罗那足球俱乐部，多年来梅西的足球生涯一直颇为成功。作为核心球员，他带领着俱乐部获得了8个西甲4个欧冠冠军奖杯。
Argentina fans have long hoped he could *replicate that success at home. The question now remains: Will a *sober Messi reconsider his decision and come back?
一直以来，阿根廷球迷们都希望他能带领国家队创造这样的佳绩。然而现在的问题是：冷静下来的梅西是否会重新考虑他的决定，重返球队？
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