10 Things Lionel Messi Wants You To Forget About

4. His Performances In An Argentina Shirt
Ok, maybe this one is a little harsh on Messi. He€™s only human, after all, and Argentina€™s attempts at reclaiming the coveted Jules Rimet trophy seem constantly undermined by bizarre managerial choices. Great player though he was, did anybody really think Diego Maradona was the right man to lead Argentina to glory back in 2010? Is Tito Martino the best Argentina can currently hope for, hired a year after overseeing Messi€™s most difficult campaign in a Barca shirt?

Then there are other variables to consider. The Argentina squad seems perpetually unbalanced, the dominance of Spain and of Germany being Germany, the inherent luck involved in winning cup competitions. Many people argue you must win the world Cup in order to be labelled an all-time great. After all, Maradona won the World Cup. So did Pele. For Messi, the most prestigious trophy in football still eludes him.

The fact he€™s not quite as prolific in an Argentina shirt is understandable. International football is a different beast altogether. And he€™s still a quality player for Argentina, just not a World Cup winner, and most likely never will be.

3. He Isn't Quite So Loved In His Native Argentina
Closely aligned with Messi€™s international struggles is the fact he€™s never quite been accepted by the Argentine public as one of their own. In the wake of Argentina€™s disappointing Copa America final defeat to Chile, national newspaper Ole blamed Messi for their failure, criticising his apparent disinterest throughout the final and calling for him to be stripped of his captaincy. It was a harsh and emotive editorial, one that illuminates Messi€™s struggles amongst the Argentine people.

Jere Longman€™s excellent piece published in 2014 in the New York Times explores the reasons why Argentina hasn€™t quite taken to their star player. At the heart of the problem is the fact Messi left the country at a young age, moving to Spain aged 13 and receiving his schooling at Barcelona€™s famed La Masia academy rather than the barrios of Argentina. He lacks that fight and determination better encapsulated by countrymen such as Carlos Tevez, a player less talented yet more revered.

And then there is the subject of Diego Maradona. The comparisons have always existed between the two, not helped by instances such as this. Yet the main difference is Maradona€™s fight and dogged determination led his country to winning the 1986 World Cup, a feat Messi seems incapable of replicating.