Thiago Silva has criticized Messi after Brazil were defeated by Argentina in a friendly in Saudi Arabia.
Thiago Silva did not criticize the referee directly, but said he understood that he was influenced by Messi.
"Messi just doesn't have that advantage in the Champions League because the referees are tougher.
"You don't see him trying to command so much. But in Spain, playing for Argentina, especially in a country where he is not known for football... Then there are referees that we do not know so much and come, by admiration, begins to pull to his side.
"Since we didn't have Neymar by our side, we are at a disadvantage.
"Messi tried to force the referee's decisions on foul situations or dangerous set-pieces, he has had this kind of reaction.
"This is no excuse.
"We were talking to some players who play in Spain.
"They said Messi seeks to command the game, this is difficult as the referee has to whistle the things that are.
Also, the Brazilian defender compared the attitude and reaction of the referees with that of another Brazilian player.
"If it were Casemiro, 'oh, this one is a bad guy, it's worth nothing.'