After Argentina endured a difficult World Cup campaign in Russia, Diego Maradona has once again taken the opportunity to question the credentials of Lionel Messi.
Seeming to acquire his information from an internal source, Maradona has criticised the behaviour of Messi, particularly in relation to his actions in a pre-game environment.
Seen as one of the leaders in the Argentina camp, Messi captained his country to their second-round exit at the summer tournament. However, Maradona isn't convinced such a role suits the Barcelona man.
"It's useless to make a leader of a guy who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a game," Maradona is reported to have said on The Last World Mexico.
Leading the country to their last World Cup success in 1986, Maradona has repeatedly criticised Messi for his apparent inability recreate his club form with Barcelona on the international stage.
Although Messi has admittedly played a number of more games for the national team than Maradona managed throughout his playing career, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has also scored almost twice as many goals.
A beaten finalist in the 2014 World Cup final with Argentina, Messi's international career has also seen the nation lose three Copa America finals.
That being said, many assume that Messi's involvement has tended to manifest itself in Argentina over-performing - and is not in fact indicative of these failures.
Nevertheless, Maradona holds true to his own opinion.
Messi is a great player but he doesn't get it. Before speaking to the manager, he will be on the PlayStation, and then on the field he asks to be and wants to be the leader.
Don't worship Messi anymore. Messi at Barcelona is one thing and with Argentina he is another one.
Seemingly unsure that Lionel Messi should be involved at all with the national team, Diego Maradona concluded; "I wouldn't call Messi but never say never. You say to Messi to 'throw yourself in head first,' but he prefers to player video games."
[Translated by AS.]
