Lionel Messi has suggested he is not 100 per cent fit, just two weeks before facing Manchester United in the Champions League.
In a fiery interview with Radio 94.7 in Argentina, Messi also took aim at his critics and warned them he has no immediate plans to retire from international football.
'Somebody says whatever they want to say about me and then people believe it and I'm painted as the son of a b****,' he said, livid at the most recent criticism after he pulled out of Argentina's win over Morocco this week and travelled back to Barcelona.
He said: 'It has become the custom to say things about me. They invent things about me when I am not there. Nothing surprises me.
'The truth is I came back to the Argentina team with a pubis injury that I have been carrying since December and I have been training less and not playing all games.
'Pubis injuries are complicated; you cannot shake them off from one day to the next. I feel better but I have to take care of myself.
'I wanted to play both games with Argentina but after the first game I had some pain and I decided to rest so as not to aggravate the injury. It is improving all the time but it is not completely cleared up.'
The prospects do not look good for the Copa America due to be played this summer in Brazil and Messi continues to be accused of not loving his country.
He added: 'My generation of players have been treated badly. We are a group that does not pay lip service. We don't keep saying that we love playing for Argentina.
'I don't go on about how I love the Argentina team as some do all the time.
'People believe what they want to believe. We don't pay lip service. We are professionals and if that were not the case I would not have come back to play for the team. No one has made me do it.'
Asked about the World Cup failure of last year he said: 'It infuriates me some of the things they say like my father runs the team.
'They say he has power in the AFA (Argentina Football Association). The family suffers. I have friends and family who suffer because of what they say.'
He admitted needing time away after the World Cup saying: 'I tried to shut myself away and grieving with just my family and getting far from everything; far from the Argentina team.'
Messi is understood to have had his fallings out with current coach Lionel Scaloni.
Despite this, some have still claimed he picked the new manager.
He added: 'I left the World Cup and didn't speak to anyone. Scaloni called me a few times and told me about the project. I never talked with anybody to make Scaloni the coach.'
On the accusation that he has picked the Argentina team over the years he said: 'Kun [Aguero] has said many times: "I am a big friend of Leo's and I am on the bench". If I had that much power Kun would be in the team.'
1jesse360
332
He could have chosen to play for Spain but chose his country of birth but people still question his loyalty.
Harshp888
174
GIVE YOUR 5 MINUTES TO READ THIS.... How come the likes of Iniesta and Luka Modric are loved for being quiet and humble players, but when it's Leo Messi, it's a lack of leadership and a lack of personality? How come when the likes of Totti, Steven Gerrard, Zanetti and Buffon are loved for staying loyal to their team but Lionel Messi is hated on for staying with Barcelona? How come players like James Rodriguez, Ozil, Isco, Eden Hazard and Marcelo are loved for being able to create chances but when Leo Messi does it, chances created are useless? How come players like Eden Hazard, Silva, Iniesta, Modric, Kovacic and Mane are loved for being able to dribble and yet when it comes to Leo Messi, dribbling is suddenly said to be useless? How come players like Steven Gerrard, Lampard, Cruijff and Dennis Bergkamp are loved despite not winning any international trophies, that too with stars, but when it's Leo Messi, suddenly he's a fraud and whatnot cause he hasn't won a collective trophy? How come that players like Lewandowski, Mbappe, Zlatan and Reus are loved for scoring goals against weaker teams and yet when Leo Messi does it, in a league that is arguably the toughest, it suddenly does not matter? How come players like RONALDO,Kane, Salah, Neymar, Mbappe and Lewandowski are loved for their numbers, irregardless of how they got them, but when it's Leo Messi that does it by scoring the best goals from open play, he's a statpadder? How come Leo Messi has such unrealistic standards thrown at him, in which he's not good enough unless he wins the treble? I'll tell you why all of this happens. It's because Lionel Messi is so good, so far ahead of everyone else, that people feel the need to underrate him. People feel the need to put all their football knowledge aside and to downplay everything he does. Because when you don't, you simply notice he's too far ahead of everyone else. When you praise Leo Messi like you praise other players for being loyal, creating chances, dribbling, scoring, assisting, consistency etc..... you actually concede that he's the best player in the world. please read this
Nigeria6329743
83
People would say some pleasant and unpleasant things about Messi because he is important to their happiness or otherwise. it is because he is a footballer like no other. Whilst it might be difficult to ignore such unpleasant comments, I think Messi should realise it is part of the burden of being a special being, a GOAT of all time and a source of happiness for club and country. All these make us forget that he is a human being like all us and therefore fallible. Messi, you have to carry that special burden just as we carry the burden of shelving every important assignment to watch you play! Please don't stop playing football week in week out, it's what you owe us while we owe you special prayers for good health and long life.
EminenceBASIT
49
Messi would have chooses Spain is what everyone is yelling for but they forgot Messi chooses according to their form and hope of winning trophy with Argentina then but now realize Spain is far better than Argentina.. Messi is a kind of player who can't deal with high pressure. Why excuses as if Messi don't cost Argentina trophies not even trophy. You people only blame people around him but don't want to blame him. Am a fan of Ronaldo and have blamed him several time for his action because they can't satisfy all but not like covering their bad. If Messi should play for Spain, they would have not won any trophy.
momeostu
12
He could have chosen to play for Spain but chose his country of birth but people still question his loyalty.
[image]
YOUR 5 MINUTES TO READ THIS.... How come the likes of Iniesta and Luka Modric are loved for being quiet and humble players, but when it's Leo Messi, it's a lack of leadership and a lack of personality? How come when the likes of Totti, Steven Gerrard, Zanetti and Buffon are loved for staying loyal to their team but Lionel Messi is hated on for staying with Barcelona? How come players like James Rodriguez, Ozil, Isco, Eden Hazard and Marcelo are loved for being able to create chances but when Leo Messi does it, chances created are useless? How come players like Eden Hazard, Silva, Iniesta, Modric, Kovacic and Mane are loved for being able to dribble and yet when it comes to Leo Messi, dribbling is suddenly said to be useless? How come players like Steven Gerrard, Lampard, Cruijff and Dennis Bergkamp are loved despite not winning any international trophies, that too with stars, but when it's Leo Messi, suddenly he's a fraud and whatnot cause he hasn't won a collective trophy? How come that players like Lewandowski, Mbappe, Zlatan and Reus are loved for scoring goals against weaker teams and yet when Leo Messi does it, in a league that is arguably the toughest, it suddenly does not matter? How come players like RONALDO,Kane, Salah, Neymar, Mbappe and Lewandowski are loved for their numbers, irregardless of how they got them, but when it's Leo Messi that does it by scoring the best goals from open play, he's a statpadder? How come Leo Messi has such unrealistic standards thrown at him, in which he's not good enough unless he wins the treble? I'll tell you why all of this happens. It's because Lionel Messi is so good, so far ahead of everyone else, that people feel the need to underrate him. People feel the need to put all their football knowledge aside and to downplay everything he does. Because when you don't, you simply notice he's too far ahead of everyone else. When you praise Leo Messi like you praise other players for being loyal, creating chances, dribbling, scoring, assisting, consistency etc..... you actually concede that he's the best player in the world. please read this
Yeubcdino
11
He could have chosen to play for Spain but chose his country of birth but people still question his loyalty.
[image]
People underestimate Messi when they aren’t even one out of billion good as him..these stupid fans need to show respect to the best player in the world when you stupid fans play in a sunday league.. disappointment