5 reasons why Messi has been unsuccessful with Argentina in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers
Arguably the greatest talent the world has ever seen, having won everything the club game has to offer, today Lionel Messi finds himself facing the final frontier: An International Trophy. Perhaps the only thing standing between his status of the "Greatest of all time " or just a once in a generation prodigy.
Well, come 2017 and we look at Argentina getting ready to face Ecuador in their last World Cup qualifying match; a must-win game. To add to that, they also need other results to go their way to go through. But would anybody had ever, in their wildest of dreams imagined of a World Cup without Messi and Argentina? Imaginations might very soon become reality.
Let us decode the 5 factors which have gone against Messi and his quest for international glory with The Albiceleste:
#1 Does the star-studded Argentina squad really play to its potential?
On paper, the team looks unmatched with the likes of Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuaín, Sergio Aguero, Javier Mascherano and youngsters of the calibre Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi doing well at the club level. However, this is where the English saying " Too many cooks spoil the broth " holds true to the very best.
Individually, all above-mentioned players are stars at their clubs but when it comes to the National Team (NT), it just doesn't work. Very often we have seen the likes of Higuaín, Aguero and more recently Dybala being benched in favour of Messi or to allow for more midfield and defensive stability.
Too much-attacking talent without midfield creativity has made them look pale at times.