Lionel Messi
One of the world's most popular footballers, Lionel Messi, has been accused of bringing his friends into the Argentina team playing in Russia. Fernando Niembro, a well respected Argentinean journalist, has suggested that Lionel Messi has a hand in picking the team that has flopped at the World Cup, Express UK reports.
In particular, the selection of Javier Mascherano has come under scrutiny with question marks over who chose to start the midfielder.
Niembro thinks enough is enough and believes now is the time for the Barcelona superstar to hang up his boots at international level.
"Messi owns the Argentina team," he said.
"He is the coach of the Argentina team and what he decided to do is play his friend and this is the result of putting your friends. A weak team, a team that isn't what it can be, a team without heart.
"Messi we asked for heart. You are the best player, when a team fails what you ask of the best player is that you dig deep and you couldn't even do that.
"Enough of Mascherano, your friend, enough from Sampaoli and his contradictions, enough of putting pressure, enough of taking control without a plan. And the truth, once Messi walked away from the Argentina team, and it wouldn't be bad if he thought about it again."
Jorge Sampaoli has admitted Messi is limited by the current Argentina team with the two-time World Cup winners facing possible early elimination after a 3-0 loss to Croatia.
The 1978 and 1986 champions could fail to make it out of their group in Russia having picked up just one point from their opening two games following Thursday night's defeat against the Croatians, who have progressed to the last 16.
Ante Rebic opened the scoring with a second-half volley that was set up by Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero's error before midfielders Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic added late strikes.
Once again Messi, who had a penalty saved in the draw with Iceland last weekend, was largely anonymous in a tournament where his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the way to be top scorer.
Sampaoli was asked about comparisons between the two in his post-match press conference and conceded that Messi's performances are being hindered by those around him.
"I think that because of the reality of the Argentine squad, it sort of clouds Leo's brilliance," he said.
"Leo is limited because the team doesn't gel ideally with him as it should. As coaches we need to realise these things and try to deal with them. I'm the one that needs to accept it."
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