TIL Desk Sports/ Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli says that compatriot Lionel Messi should be the pride of Argentina rather than criticised for his failure to deliver a major trophy. Messi was in top form on his return from suspension and scored twice as Barcelona extended Sevilla’s slump in a 3-0 win yesterday.
But while he is a hero at the Camp Nou, Messi has not always had the same adulation in his homeland. “There is a necessity for some people to win something solely thanks to Leo,” said Sampaoli, who has been linked with taking over as Argentina boss for the rest of their faltering World Cup qualifying campaign.
“That seems like too much of a burden to me for a player who has given everything and who makes all of Argentina proud that he is the best in the world.” Messi was handed a four-match international ban for insulting an assistant referee in a 1-0 win over Chile on March 24.