Before Lionel Messi finally led Argentina to major international glory, he endured some brutal moments with the national team—none more painful than back-to-back Copa America final defeats to Chile in 2015 and 2016, both decided by penalty shootouts. Those losses left a lasting mark on Argentine soccer, and one of Messi’s teammates from both finals—a FIFA Puskas Award winner who lit up the Premier League—has now announced his retirement from professional soccer at age 33.

According to Argentine journalist Cesar Luis Merlo, Erik Lamela has terminated his contract with Greek side AEK Athens to retire from playing and join the coaching staff of Matias Almeyda, the current Sevilla boss. Almeyda is a familiar face for Lamela, having played alongside him at River Plate and later coached him thi

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