Maradona says Messi is no leader or legend

Argentine legend Diego Maradona feels Lionel Messi is not a leader and should not be considered a footballing deity.

“We shouldn’t deify Messi any longer. He’s Messi when he plays for Barcelona. Messi is Messi when he wears that shirt, and he’s another Messi with Argentina,” he told Fox Sports. “He’s a great player but he’s not a leader. It’s useless trying to make a leader out of a man who goes to the toilet 20 times before a game.”

Maradona coached the Argentine squad at the 2010 World Cup. Messi is yet to win any silverware for Argentina but has won every possible honour with his club FC Barcelona and is a five-time Fifa World Player of the Year.

Messi has been on the losing side in all four of his finals with Argentina and has not scored in four World Cup knockout stages.