Messi’s darkest hour: The emotional story behind Inter Miami star's most heartbreaking locker room breakdown

Claudio Bravo reveals the Argentine star's saddest moment

Claudio Bravo, goalkeeper for F.C. Barcelona from 2014 to 2016, spoke on ESPN F90 Chile about the saddest sporting moment of Leo Messi before his definitive official retirement from the Argentina National Team.

" I happened to have him inside the locker room when they were most criticized, when they had to lose to us (Chile) on two occasions. It was the most questioned moment in relation to the Argentina National Team and its players," recalled the Chilean goalkeeper, who throughout his career played for Colo-Colo, Real Sociedad, Barcelona, Manchester City, and Real Betis.

You encounter the greatness of this player in absolute solitude. I found him alone that day in the bench seats; absolutely alone

On June 26, 2016, Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, after having lost his third consecutive final with the Albiceleste (2015 Copa América, 2016 Copa América Centenario, and 2014 World Cup).

'Claudio Bravo refers to the criticism Messi received after Argentina lost to Chile in the Copa América: "I also remember very clearly when he stepped down, after the penalty shootout, when our celebration was going on... and you come across the greatness of this player in absolute solitude. I found him alone that day in the seats on the bench; completely alone".'

'Claudio Bravo: "That’s where I came to know the negative side of football in relation to its idols"'

The 43-year-old former Chilean footballer emphasizes about Messi that "we are talking about the best player in the history of this sport" and that "that is when you see the two sides. You see the face of success and the face of defeat, where in success the number of people who can surround you, the number of good things, but that was when I came to know the negative side that football has in relation to its idols".

'"In the nearly three years we were together and in the conversations we had after qualifying matches, or wherever we happened to compete, he was an absolutely normal person. Unlike other players you come across along the way who do not have the significance or the stature of a Messi... (In this environment) you come across players who are very hard to reach, with whom it is difficult to strike up a conversation, but with Messi it is exactly the opposite. Leo, at times, does not realize -or did not realize- how great he has become within football," Bravo said about the current Inter Miami player.'