BEIJING, March 12 -- Playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme quit the Argentine national side for the second time in three years on Tuesday and blamed coach Diego Maradona for his decision.

"The national team is over for me," the former Barcelona and Villarreal player, now with Boca Juniors, told the Canal 13 television station in an interview. "I'm going to watch the World Cup on the television."

Boca Juniors' Juan Roman Riquelme celebrates after he scored his team's second goal against Colon de Santa Fe at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Dec. 14, 2008

"We don't think the same way. We don't share the same codes of ethics. While he is the coach of the national team, we can't work together."

Maradona told the same television station: "I'm very sad that Riquelme does not want to play in my team but I'm not going to cry over spilt milk."

Diego Maradona, head coach of Argentina's national soccer team, speaks during a news conference in Buenos Aires Feb. 23, 2009

It was the second major controversy since Maradona's surprise appointment in October. Less than two weeks after he took over, Maradona reportedly threatened to quit after the Argentine association refused to allow him to name Oscar Ruggeri as his assistant.

The enigmatic Riquelme, 30, previously retired after the 2006 World Cup. He backtracked less than a year later and led his side to the final of the Copa America with some inspired performances.

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