Diego Maradona has offered Barcelona ace Lionel Messi some advice ahead of the World Cup in Russia this summer.
Messi will carry Argentina’s hopes on his shoulders in Russia and the pressure on the 30-year-old to win the World Cup for his country will be intense.
Argentina have not won the World Cup since 1986, when Maradona inspired the team to victory in Mexico, and he’s told Messi to simply enjoy himself.
“I would advise Messi to keep playing, to enjoy the game,” he told Omnisport.
“He has to forget about the critics, if he can win the World Cup or not.
“He doesn’t have to demonstrate anything. He has to enjoy the game on the field.
“I don’t know [coach Jorge] Sampaoli, I don’t know how he plays. But, I know a lot of the players and I know they will give everything.
“And I think they have a good opportunity to win. But I don’t choose [Argentina] as a favourite because the favourite one never wins.”
Source | FourFourTwo
Argentina and Messi are back in Barcelona temporarily ahead of a friendly with Israel in Jerusalem.
The team then kick off their World Cup campaign against Iceland on June 16, before facing Croatia and Nigeria.