Barcelona star Lionel Messi is reportedly taking a rest from playing for Argentina following their Copa America final loss to Chile and the nation's coach Gerardo Martino said he would have quit if he were in Messi's shoes.
Messi is heavily criticized after scoring only one goal in six games in their Copa America campaign, which was another heartbreak for Argentina following their 2014 FIFA World Cup final loss to Germany in July.
Playing for Barcelona, Messi already has helped capture all the possible trophies his club could win, also being awarded the Ballon d'Or four times.
Unfortunately, the 28-year-old football star is yet to win a trophy playing for his home nation from an international tournament.
Despite the situation, Martino believes Messi does not deserve all the criticisms he is receiving.
"If I were in Messi's place I would have stopped playing with the national team a long time ago, but I would keep playing for Barcelona. To speak about the criticism of Messi is to give strength to something that does not deserve any type of analysis," Martino said in the FOX Sports show "90 Minutos de Futbol."
Argentina will play in a friendly against Mexico on Sept. 8 at the AT&T Center in Arlington, Texas and reports say Messi will be sitting that out.
But Martino shot down the reports saying that information regarding Messi not playing for Argentina came from outside the camp, which makes it hard to explain since it did not come from someone involved in the issue.
When asked if Messi will be playing in their match against Mexico, Martino said he will be calling him but he is uncertain if the Barca star will be coming.
Martino added that not having Messi in the game against Mexico would be "frustrating" but that he would understand it if such happens.
