Lionel Messi's Penalty Ball from 2016 Copa America May Be Sold, Fan Fears Theft

The last ball Lionel Messi kicked in international football could be sold for €27,000 (£23,024), as its owner fears it being stolen if he keeps it.

Per BBC Sport, the Argentina superstar retired from playing for his national team last month after the Albiceleste lost a third major final in two years—they were beaten 4-2 on penalties by Chile in the Copa America Centenario final.

Messi was one of the Argentina players who missed from the spot, and he announced his decision to retire after the loss, which followed defeat to the same opposition in the 2015 Copa final and World Cup misery at the hands of Germany in 2014.

Per Marca, Chilean Pedro Vasquez has benefited significantly from Messi's decision to call it a day, as he caught the ball after the 29-year-old's miss, and he claims to have been offered a number of huge bids for the item, the highest being €27,000 (£23,024).

He said he is tempted to sell if the value keeps rising: "The truth is that if the ball becomes any more valuable, it would be a risk to have it in my house. I could sell it, it would depend on the circumstances. It is nice to have the ball, but if it keeps rising in price, I'll sell."

Vasquez may need to be quick about his decision to sell, as Messi is being urged from all corners to come out of retirement, with Argentina President Mauricio Macri recently saying he hoped the Barcelona forward would be at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, per Sport.