Leo Messi Tells Sergio Aguero He Has to Wear His No. 10 Shirt While He's Out
Oct 7, 2015
Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, and teammate Sergio Aguero stretch during a training session one day before their World Cup semifinal soccer match against Netherlands at Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
Just call it a loan.
Barcelona star Leo Messi is injured, which means he will miss Argentina's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.
This, of course, also vacates his famous No. 10 shirt, but it looks like it has landed in good hands.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, who is a good friend of Messi's, will wear the shirt in his absence.
I spoke to the kitman and he told me it is obligatory - someone has to use it because the numbers go from 1 to 23.
I wore it for the first time against Bosnia, in a friendly in the United States, and Leo said: 'When I am not around, Kun has to use it.' Then he started to send me messages: 'Are you going to wear it? You're not going to chicken out?
Now every time he is absent it is up to me to wear it. I am happy to pull on the shirt, but it obviously belongs to him.
Argentina play Ecuador on Thursday and follow it up with a clash against Paraguay next Tuesday.
Bolivia vs. Argentina: Score and Twitter Reaction from 2015 Friendly
Sep 4, 2015
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 04: Sergio Aguero #11 of Argentina scores a goal past Dainel Vaca #1 of Bolivia during their international friendly match at BBVA Compass Stadium on September 4, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
The last friendly meeting between Argentina and Bolivia resulted in a 5-0 victory for Lionel Messi's side, and the Argentines put on a similar scoring exhibition Friday when the two sides met at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.
In the showdown on United States soil, Argentina emerged victorious in a 7-0 romp as it imposed its offensive will thanks to braces from Messi, Sergio Aguero and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Lavezzi got the party started by collecting an aerial feed and taking his time before ripping the ball into the back of the net.
His sweet right-footed finish was relayed by beIN Sports USA on Twitter:
Aguero then teamed up with Lavezzi to wreak havoc on Bolivia's back line, and his first goal of the evening was a stunner.
Timing a run down the right side, the Manchester City striker made up for a heavy touch by lofting the ball over the outstretched arms of Bolivian goalkeeper Daniel Vaca.
BeIN Sports USA passed along video of the clinical tally:
As it turns out, Aguero had an affinity for chips Friday evening. En route to putting Argentina up 4-0, Aguero floated the ball over the 'keeper once again to secure his second conversion:
Lavezzi also tallied two goals on the evening, but Messi stole the show after making a triumphant entrance in the 65th minute, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz:
BBVA Compass Stadium just exploded in a thunderous roar after a guy named "Messi" got up from the bench. He's good, GOAT good.
In true Messi fashion, the world's most compelling striker wasted no time in etching his name onto the scoresheet.
While Argentina led 4-0 at the time of Messi's substitution, the lead increased to 6-0 just eight minutes into his stint on the Houston turf, as beIN relayed:
Although Messi took some criticism following his performance in Argentina's Copa America final loss to Chile, manager Gerardo Martino told reporters his star player reported back to national team training in good spirits, per the Houston Chronicle's German Fernandez Moores:
I found Leo well, as usual when he comes to the national team. Many of his teammates have spoken and expressed what the group feels about him, and he is aware of it. He knows what he means to our team. Finally, here he is available for selection, and he is going to play, and that puts an end to all the speculation about him since the final of the Copa America.
With the brace in hand, silly concerns regarding Messi's form can be put to rest once and for all.
Angel Correa capped off the blowout with Argentina's seventh goal in the 84th minute, and the referee called the match just four minutes later before things could even get to stoppage time.
Friday's thrashing of Bolivia wasn't a major confidence-booster for Argentina, given the disparity in talent, but considering the team needed to rebound from the Copa America final in advance of World Cup qualifying season, Messi and Co. should be pleased with the result.
According to ESPN.com, South American qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is slated to begin next month and continue through October 2017.
And since Argentina has advanced to the quarterfinals in each of the past three World Cups—including a runner-up finish in 2014—the esteemed South American side should have no trouble rounding into tiptop shape with another berth at stake.
Houston Dynamo Academy Players Are Left in Awe After Training with Lionel Messi
Sep 2, 2015
When you get a chance to meet the legendary Lionel Messi, you best not miss.
A group of Houston Dynamo (MLS) academy players were given an incredible opportunity this week, as they got to train with Argentina as the Argentines used the Dynamo facility to prepare for their friendly with Bolivia on Saturday in Houston.
The gravity of the situation wasn't lost on the Dynamo's prospects.
As Messi walked off the pitch, he greeted a group of the players and gave one a hug he missed on the way out.
One of the players had to quickly confirm that the greeting was captured for the world to see, "you got that, right?"
Players Christian Molina and Juan Martinez confirmed the otherworldly experience afterward.
Lionel Messi Commits to Argentina After Winning UEFA Award with Barcelona
Aug 28, 2015
Argentina's forward Lionel Messi is seen during their 2015 Copa America football championship final against Chile, in Santiago, Chile, on July 4, 2015. AFP PHOTO / RODRIGO ARANGUA (Photo credit should read RODRIGO ARANGUA/AFP/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi is adored by connoisseurs of European football, as was evident when he won UEFA’s award for Best Player on Thursday. But in his homeland of Argentina, they aren’t quite as hung up on the Barcelona star at the moment, although Messi has insisted that despite reports to the contrary, he remains committed to his country.
Speaking at the UEFA ceremony, the forward swatted aside talk that he was considering taking a step back from the international scene, per ESPN FC:
I never said that I wasn't going to play any longer with the national team. More than how they killed me [media], they weren't going to kill me any more.
I am used to them saying these types of things. Now we have friendlies and as long as the coach calls me up I am going to continue to be present.
FC Barcelone Argentinian striker Lionel Messi poses with the trophy of Best Men's player in Europe at the end of the UEFA Champions League Group stage draw ceremony, on August 27, 2015 in Monaco. AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE (Photo credit should read V
As noted in the piece, Messi drew scathing criticism from some sections of the Argentine media after the Albiceleste lost the final of the Copa America against Chile and subsequent reports emerged suggesting the four-time Ballon d’Or winner may be considering retiring from international football.
There are plenty who think he should do. Argentina coach Tata Martino said he would have “stopped playing with the national team a long time ago” if he was criticised to that extent, per the previous piece. In addition, fellow Albiceleste forward Carlos Tevez recently told Canal America (h/t AS) that “if I was Messi, I'd have told Argentina to go to hell.”
Messi was harshly criticised after Argentina lost the Copa America final.
As we can see here courtesy of these statistics provided by WhoScored.com, Messi turned in some incredible displays for the national team at the last major tournament, most notably against Paraguay in the semi-final:
Granted, Messi has never scaled the same heights for Argentina as he has done with Barcelona. This Blaugrana side and its predecessors have been meticulously built around Messi to enrich his mercurial talents and the results, goals, trophies and records he has helped plunder make it all worthwhile.
Messi has failed to replicate the same levels for Argentina as he has done for Barcelona.
Various managers for Argentina have tried and failed to get the best from Messi down the years and while his international record is still impressive—46 goals in 102 games, per transfermarkt.com—there’s always a sense of there being something missing when watching the Barcelona man in international colours.
As we can see here courtesy of Moneli Inc., Messi’s trophy haul at club level really does speak for itself:
Encouragingly, Argentina will have another chance to crack the Messi code moving forward. At the Copa America there were some signs that the skipper is beginning to finally become better accustomed to the role of being the team’s talisman and the World Cup qualifiers for Russia 2018 will be an excellent chance to experiment with how to get the best from the forward.
But to lay the blame at the feet of Messi is a little peculiar from those in the Argentine press who did choose to criticise him. After all, the Barcelona man has dragged his nation to two major finals in the past two years; perhaps it’s time some of the Albiceleste’s other players took on a share of the responsibility Messi has to shoulder every time he runs out for Argentina.
Lionel Messi Set for Mexico vs. Argentina Call-Up, Gerardo Martino Slams Critics
Aug 4, 2015
Argentina's Lionel Messi walks next to the Copa America trophy during the Copa America final soccer match at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, July 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Lionel Messi is set to be called up by Argentina to play in the planned September 8 friendly against Mexico despite recent claims that the Barcelona star would sit out the match.
Veronica Brunati of Spanish outlet AS recently reported an Argentine Football Association representative as saying that Messi would be excused from the Mexico game to rest.
The news came in the wake of Argentina's disappointing failure at the Copa America—when they lost in the final to Chile—after which Messi received much criticism and speculation arose that the 28-year-old may quit the national team, per Argentine outlet Ole (h/t AS):
However, Albiceleste manager Gerardo Martino has now rubbished any ideas that Messi will not be called up for the Mexico clash, per Argentina's Radio Uno (via Spanish outlet Marca): "Messi has not made himself unavailable for the Mexico game. You'll see that when I name my squad next week."
Argentina's penalty-shootout defeat to Chile in July was their second major final defeat in a year, coming after 2014's World Cup final defeat to Germany.
After a season in which he won the treble with Barcelona and scored 43 La Liga goals, Messi was criticised for netting only once in the Copa America, per WhoScored.com.
His own grandfather, Antonio Cuccitini, even waded in, per Radio Casilda (h/t Joe Strange on MailOnline): "Some of him was there," he said. "Triumphs are the greatest things there are. But the last three games he was bad. He was lazy."
Martino has come out in defence of his star forward, without whom it is doubtful that Argentina would have made it to the Copa America or World Cup final.
The former Barca manager has praised Messi's contributions at Chile's Copa as some of his best in an Argentina shirt, per Radio Uno (h/t Marca):
In my opinion, Messi's Copa America performances were his best in an Argentina shirt. I shouldn't even respond to this type of criticism, because it's unbelievable. It wouldn't stand up to analysis and has no basis. As an Argentine, I'd be hugely disappointed [if Messi quit the national team] because nobody can imagine not having the best player in the world available for selection.
And it is hard to argue with Martino, especially concerning Messi's performance in the 6-1 semi-final drubbing of Paraguay, per WhoScored:
Messi is currently back with Barcelona following his post-Copa America holiday. The Catalan giants have a busy schedule coming up, with the UEFA and Spanish Super Cups to negotiate before the new La Liga season begins.
Some Barca fans may have been satisfied with the news that Messi would sit out the September friendly, to give him time to rest. However, it now seems that the Argentine superstar is set to take the field against Mexico after all.
Lionel Messi to Miss Planned Mexico vs. Argentina Friendly Match
Jul 27, 2015
Argentina's Lionel Messi walks next to the Copa America trophy during the Copa America final soccer match at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, July 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Lionel Messi will sit out Argentina's scheduled friendly against Mexico on September 8.
It will be the Albiceleste's first fixture since their defeat on penalties to Chile in the final of the summer's Copa America.
The friendly may yet be cancelled as, much like a mooted September 5 match against Brazil, it has been organised by Full Play International TV S.A., whose owners—Hugo and Mariano Jinkis—are under investigation for corruption as part of the wider FIFA scandal, per the Mirror.
However, even if it does go ahead, an AFA official has said that Messi will not be involved, per Veronica Brunati of Spanish outlet AS: "The relevant processes are in place to ensure that Leo is excused from the Mexico game so that he can get more rest if the match does go ahead."
In the wake of Argentina's disappointing failure at the Copa America, Barcelona's Messi received much criticism, sparking rumours he may quit the national team for a time, per Ole via AS:
Coming just a year after Argentina lost to Germany in the World Cup final, recent national team disappointments must surely be weighing heavily on star man Messi.
However, it seems clear that the 28-year-old is not planning a long-term hiatus from the national team and is merely set to take the opportunity to rest by missing the Mexico clash.
Argentina will hope to see Messi return for their first World Cup 2018 qualifier against Ecuador at the beginning of October.
Meanwhile, Barcelona will no doubt be delighted that Messi is to sit out the Mexico match, as it comes just ahead of their trip to Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
Twitter Reacts to Pablo Aimar's Retirement
Jul 15, 2015
Benfica's Pablo Aimar, from Argentina, celebrates after scoring their fourth goal against Setubal during their Portuguese league soccer match Monday, Aug. 31 2009, at Benfica's Luz stadium in Lisbon. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
With the news that Argentinian playmaker Pablo Aimar has announced his retirement from football after an injury-plagued spell with River Plate, fans are paying tribute to the popular former Valencia and Benfica man.
And how about this for an endorsement? Aimar has been identified as a longtime idol of none other than Lionel Messi, and a picture of a young Messi posing with an Aimar shirt is doing the rounds on Twitter.
Aimar retires having been capped 52 times by Argentina. He won league titles with Valencia and Benfica as well as the UEFA Cup in his time at the Mestalla.
Lionel Messi Slammed by Diego Maradona After 2015 Copa America Failure
Jul 14, 2015
Argentina's Lionel Messi looks on after the Copa America final game agains Chile at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, July 4, 2015. Chile's goalkeeper Claudio Bravo made a save and striker Alexis Sanchez converted the winning penalty as host Chile defeated Argentina 4-1 in a shootout after a 0-0 draw in the Copa America final.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Argentinian legend Diego Maradona has criticised Lionel Messi's performances at the 2015 Copa America, but he believes many have gone overboard in their assessment of the icon's inability to impact the Albiceleste's final loss to Chile.
Maradona—who led Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup—bemoaned Messi's lack of influence during the tournament to Ole (h/t Marca):
"It's logical that he's come in for flak, it's easy to explain. We've got the best player in the world, who goes and scores four goals against Real Sociedad, and then he comes here and doesn't touch the ball. You're left saying to yourself, 'Dammit, are you Argentinian or Swedish?'"
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 27: Diego Maradona head coach of Argentina gestures to Lionel Messi of Argentina during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Round of Sixteen match between Argentina and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 27, 2010 in
He also doesn't believe Messi should receive preferential treatment because he's a global icon for Barcelona. Even so, Maradona indicated reactions to Messi's international performances are over the top, reported Marca:
People have got to stop droning on about Messi needing to be pampered. Messi should be treated just like any other player who pulls on the national-team shirt. Like the best in the world, for better or worse. Still, it's not like Messi killed or raped someone; we mustn't make a drama out of this.
That said, running a poll to ask if he should play for the national team or not, no, that's losing the plot guys. We mustn't be extremist, but we mustn't get used to always finishing second either.
Antonio Cuccitini, Messi's grandfather, was among those to criticise the player after Argentina fell short: "Some of him was there," he told Radio Casilda (h/t Joe Strange of the MailOnline). "Triumphs are the greatest things there are. But the last three games he was bad. He was lazy."
Messi scored one and assisted three in six matches at the South American tournament, as recorded by WhoScored.com.
However, after netting in the opening 2-2 draw with Paraguay, all three of his assists came in the 6-1 semi-final beating of the same side.
Messi is a man of subtle movement and game-changing intelligence, but many would have expected him to provide a telling contribution in more than two matches.
This is especially true after he racked up 43 goals and 18 assists in La Liga last season, per WhoScored. Messi is surrounded by world-class quality in the Argentina national setup, with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez in the squad, but Gerardo Martino's team don't enjoy the same attacking flow as Messi shares with Neymar and Luis Suarez at Barcelona.
Quite often, you're only as good as the players around you, as highlighted by Guardian writer Sid Lowe:
If Higuain takes those two chances one year apart, is Messi the best player of all time?
Messi has led Argentina to two final losses in the space of a year. Last summer's World Cup defeat to Germany should still be seen as an excellent achievement for Argentina, who moved into the No. 1 spot of the FIFA World Rankings with July's update. Such is the expectation surrounding the player, who can star in this achievement and still be deemed a disappointment.
At 28 years old it's likely Messi will have one more World Cup and Copa America to suppress his doubters. Not winning a major tournament is regularly used against him by those who question his placement on the sport's overall list of legends.
Messi is a victim of his own club success in this regard. We're so used to seeing him score ridiculous amounts of goals en route to silverware with Barca—recently highlighted by a second treble-winning season with the club—that expectations for the national team are unfairly skewed.
As Maradona hints, however, Argentina would be far worse off without the era-defining player.
Lionel Messi Can Be Compared to Diego Maradona, but in the Correct Way
Jul 9, 2015
Argentina's Lionel Messi walks next to the Copa America trophy during the Copa America final soccer match at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, July 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
There was something baffling about the reaction to Lionel Messi’s performance in last Saturday’s Copa America final, which Argentina lost on penalties to Chile. It wasn’t just that he was criticised for his performance—which was understandable enough given how little impact he made on the game—it was the clear glee certain people took in the assessment and, most particularly, in the negative comparisons with Diego Maradona.
Messi bottled the final, numerous posts on Twitter claimed; Maradona wouldn’t have bottled the final. It’s a ludicrous way of looking at football.
Messi was restricted in the final. Stats from WhoScored.com show he had only 63 touches in normal time—his lowest tally for the tournament. Jorge Sampaoli, the Chile coach, devised a tactical plan to stop him, and it worked—just as Maradona was negated in the 1986 World Cup final by Lothar Matthaus, if we have to make the comparison.
With Argentina 2-0 up, Matthaus was forced into a more attacking role, and West Germany came back to level. That gave Maradona more space, and he used it to play Jorge Burrachaga through to score the winner. Much, in fact, as Messi suddenly found space late on and played a perfect through ball for Ezequiel Lavezzi, who played a poor cross to Gonzalo Higuain to skew wide from a narrowish angle.
Maradona’s main contribution in the 1990 World Cup final, meanwhile, was to barge referee Edgardo Codesal after he’d sent off centre-forward Gustavo Dezotti.
Criticise Messi for his performance by all means, and particularly the way he seemed to allow frustration to take hold to such an extent that in extra time he was bullied by Mati Fernandez, but don’t do it by pretending Maradona was always brilliant in finals.
What if Higuain had scored? What if Messi had played the pass that led to the winning goal in the Copa America final? Would that make him undisputedly the best of all time? Of course not. What if Higuain hadn’t missed his penalty (and Messi, as poorly as he played, took a fine penalty in the shootout; if we’re doing pointless comparisons, have a look a Maradona’s weak effort against Yugoslavia in the shootout in the 1990 World Cup quarter-final)?
Or suppose, as he might easily have done, Higuian had scored both that chance in the final minute last Saturday and his opportunity in the World Cup final. Suppose Argentina had won both games 1-0 as a result. Would that make Messi better than Maradona?
There’s a paradox here, of course, which is that part of the argument for Maradona’s superior greatness is the supposed weakness of his supporting cast, yet he won the World Cup because his team-mates took chances in the final while Messi’s didn’t. Would Messi be the greatest ever if he'd played alongside Jorge Valdano rather than Higuain?
Break the issue down like that and it’s apparent how ridiculous much of the argument is. The debate itself is perfectly valid (even if it tends rapidly to become boring because of blinkered partisanship on both sides)—of course, we naturally compare two such outstanding players, particularly when they come from the same country and have such obvious similarities of style.
There are those who claim you can’t compare across eras because the laws were applied differently—and Maradona took a far greater kicking than Messi ever has—but that surely is just part of the debate.
Diego Maradona was often targeted by defenders.
The problem, rather, is the claim that Messi can’t be as great as Maradona because he hasn’t won an international competition. Maradona never won the European Cup (while Messi has won three, playing a leading role in each final).
Ah, those who stick to this line of reasoning will say, but he never played for a side as good as the modern Barcelona. Which is true, but why is that a defence for Maradona and not Messi? Although Messi has played with a lot of extremely good players with the national side, he’s never played in an extremely good national side—no coach has ever found the right blend.
Now you could argue that is in part Messi’s fault, but again, that is part of the debate—perhaps he isn’t tactically flexible enough. But simply pointing out who’s won what and drawing sweeping conclusions on the basis of individual games isn’t enough.
Lionel Messi Denies Reports of Potential Argentina National Team Hiatus
Jul 8, 2015
Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts after Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain missed his penalty kick against Chile during the Copa America final soccer match at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, July 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Lionel Messi has reportedly denied rumours suggesting he is considering taking a break from international football following Argentina's Copa America final loss to Chile.
Argentinian outlet Ole(h/t AS in English) recently reported that the Barcelona star was at the end of his tether after being criticised for his performances with the Albiceleste.
The penalty-shootout loss to Chile in Saturday's final came less than a year after they were beaten by Germany in the World Cup final in Brazil.
However, despite the defeats and the criticism, Messi is not contemplating a hiatus from international football, according to a source close to the 28-year-old forward, per Luis F. Rojoof Spanish outlet Marca: "It's bulls--t being spread by media outlets that do nothing but make things up."
Rojo continues that Messi feels "quitting playing for Argentina would be bowing to the critics."
He took to his Facebook page in the wake of the Copa defeat to thank fans for their support:
Messi only managed one goal in six matches at the Copa America, something of a surprise for a player who scored 43 La Liga goals for Barcelona in the 2014-15 season, per WhoScored.com.
He has often been criticised for failing to reproduce his club form at the international level, but he is seemingly committed to proving his doubters wrong by continuing with Argentina.
