Following Lionel Messi's return to Argentina after an eight-month sabbatical from national team duty, a former FC Barcelona star has revealed that Albiceleste needs to offer the FC Barcelona skipper more support if they are to succeed.
Messi's eight-month sabbatical from national team duty was brought to an end after coach Lionel Scaloni, included the five-time Ballon d'Or winner in his squad for international friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco.
Carles Rexach, who both played for and coached LaLiga giants Barcelona, lifted the lid on Messi's situation with Argentina, claiming that the 31-year-old lacks support for the national team.
"I would love for him to win a World Cup with Argentina for his own personal satisfaction," Rexach told Super Deportivo.
"It would be important for him and all of Argentina.
"He lacks support. He's missing the players he has at Barcelona and sometimes he's had good players by his side, but they don't know how to complement his game.
"Messi starts further back for Argentina.
There isn't another World Cup until Qatar in 2022, but Rexach is of the opinion that Messi can feature there in good condition.
"Argentina need to build a team where Messi can do what he wants and what he knows," he added.
"He doesn't have to empty himself doing things that he doesn't need to do. If this happens, Messi can reach 2022 in perfect condition."
Messi is Argentina’s all-time top scorer with 65 goals in 128 matches and came agonisingly close to getting his hands on the World Cup title in 2014, but fell one hurdle short, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat against Germany in the final.
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