Kempes: For such a long time, Argentina have only had Messi

Former Valencia and Argentina striker Mario Kempes has waded in on the debate as to whether Lionel Messi can ever be as good as Diego Maradona if he never wins anything with the Albiceleste.

Kempes spoke to Radio MARCA ahead of the Copa America this summer and discussed Messi, Maradona, coach Lionel Scaloni and Mauro Icardi.

Many believe that Messi cannot be compared with Maradona until he wins a trophy with Argentina, but Kempes doesn't agree.

"Maradona was world champion in 1986 and Messi still hasn't done that. That's the reality," he said.

"But Messi has won it all, what he's done has been fantastic, although there will always be this comparison that Messi will not be as good as Maradona because he's not won the World Cup. It's all stupid. Messi doesn't have to win the World Cup to be as good as Diego.

"None of Maradona's teammates were scared to play alongside him and they all did what they had to do. They weren't scared; they were actually thankful. But now, with the exception of some, they give up... Messi can't do it all. You have to value it because, if you get called up to the national team, it's not because you're Messi's friend, it's because you complement Messi.

"It's clear that he has to know how to put up with everything that's thrown at him. He's the best in the world and I'm giving him every reason to kick up the fuss that he does because he has the right to do so; he can't do it all. He's not Superman. It gets to the point where you grow tired of: if they concede, it's his fault; if the defender makes a mistake, it's his fault; everything bad that happens to Argentina is his fault...

"Argentinians are petty and selfish. I don't understand this enthusiasm they have for Maradona now when we have the best in the world [in front of us right now]. That's what Argentinians are like, they prefer to look backward because Messi still hasn't won the World Cup and forget that this guy has won it all. For some, Messi isn't useful."

After temporarily stepping away from international football after last year's World Cup, Messi is back in the Argentina squad for the Copa America as he tries to win his first piece of silverware with his country.

Kempes wants to see other players step up and contribute, rather than it being Messi who fires them to glory on his own.

"We have to work out what we want," he said. "Do we satisfy the fans in the short term and make us completely wrong? If you become champions, no one will care how you play, but I want to see how we play, what ambitions we have because, for such a long time, Argentina have only had Messi.

"I'm worried that these players, the ones who are stars with their clubs, forget everything when they go onto the pitch. I'm worried that they don't have the same conviction with the national team that they have with their clubs.

"I have no idea [how Argentina will play], I don't know if it'll be 4-3-3, 4-4-2... The only thing Scaloni has to do in this Copa America is find his team for the knockout stages. Not qualifying for the World Cup is what worries me the most. I find it shameful that they only gave him a contract for this Copa because there's no reason to have a coach for two months. You have to see what Scaloni wants, who he plays, how he plays... I don't think he's going [into the tournament] with the mentality of becoming champions. Only scraping our way through the knockout stages would annoy me a lot."

After a difficult season with Inter, Mauro Icardi has been left out of the final 23-man squad for this summer's tournament. So, does Kempes think he's wasted his talent?

"I don't think so, he can rediscover himself because he's a great player," he said. "He's used to playing up front on his own at Inter and he would be perfect if Argentina need a No.9."