Part of the problem with society now is that some parents and do-gooders think its unfair for kids to experience failure, or get hurt, or feel sad.
Tough luck, how about worrying less about pleading with him to retire and more about getting him out.
I guess the kid that dropped him on 40 was lucky that he and his team mates were kids, coz if he was an adult he'd be buying the beers for the rest of the night if I was playing in his team!