Mascherano: If Messi didn't return for Argentina it would have been a sin

Javier Mascherano has spoken about the task ahead for Argentina in the 2018 World Cup and Lionel Messi's decision to return playing for the Albiceleste.

Messi had revealed after the Copa America defeat to Chile on June 26 that he would no longer be featuring for Argentina and thus ended his 11-year career with his country.

In recent weeks, however, the 29-year-old has reversed his viewpoint and will continue playing for Edgardo Bauza's team.

"It would have been a sin for Argentinians to be deprived of seeing Messi play for the national team," Mascherano began. "But [the decision to retire] wasn't taken lightly by Leo, he had his reasons.

'El jefecito' also acknowledged that had the Barcelona forward not returned to the fold that he and his team-mates had already considered stepping down for Argentina.

"The fact that a colleague and friend, who is also the captain, says he doesn't want to continue makes you think more about what you want to do yourself," he continued. "Fortunately, everything has been resolved in a normal way with [Messi's] return to the squad."

Mascherano has lost four finals alongside Messi with Argentina, three of which have come in the last three years at the 2014 World Cup and 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas - both ending in the defeats to Chile on penalties.

Now, the defender only has the 2018 World Cup in mind and doesn't consider his setbacks with the Albiceleste as failures.

"We need to move on [from the Copa America final defeat] to achieve the goal of qualifying for the World Cup," the 32-year-old concluded. "We must look ahead because in less than a year we will know whether we will be going to Russia or not.

"I have not been lucky [with Argentina] but I don't feel like a loser. I don't feel like a failure for having reached three consecutive finals.

"We have the strength to compete again, so there is no use in looking back."