MESSI: DO CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA

Barca striker calls on whole country to It’s my last chance. I only want tears of

LIONEL MESSI knows he is running out of time to lift the World Cup.

Argentina’s brilliant No.10 might have won everything for Barcelona.

Yet, with his 31st birthday approaching, he has nothing but tears for souvenirs when it comes to living up to the legacy of national legends like Diego Maradona and Daniel Passarella.

Argentina were beaten by Germany in the final in Brazil four years ago.

And Messi has also been on the losing side in three Copa America finals.

He is aware that he will lead Jorge Sampaoli’s men to Russia with the weight of the entire nation on his shoulders.

It’s an often unbearable pressure that regularly prompts Messi to seek sanctuary in the protection of his family – but he can still hear the clock ticking as he looks to seal his place in the pantheon of World Cup greats.

He said: “I have cried several times for the lost finals, for the disappointment of being so close, for the belief that we deserved to win, and for not being able to consecrate the dream of an entire country. I know what is expected of me. I have seen the desire of people all over the world for me to have a great tournament. And, of course, I have a dream myself to be a champion.

“The truth is that I have lived with that pressure.

“Do I have an analyst? No. I talk to my family. My wife, my father, my mother and my brothers are the people who know everything.

“But all the Argentina players feel it. It seems that to have reached three finals in s useless. We all t champions this another chance The Barca changed his g country to gl “As you g learn to do t pitch,” he sai take the ball today I try to “Now I pass not so direct a