"One day Lionel Messi will quit playing for Argentina"
Argentina's best basketball player in history, Emanuel Ginobili has leapt to the defence of Lionel Messi. And he said that it wouldn't be a surprise if the Bracelona star gave up playing for his country. "It's a pity that they criticise the biggest joy of Argentine sport," he said.
The harsh criticism of Messi after Argentina's defeat in the Copa America final provoked a strong reaction not just from football peronalities, but from many sports, including Ginobili. "I have no relationship with Messi, so I don't know how he goes through this situation. I've done it with skepticism because I can't believe that there's any doubt about this monster. He plays everything and brings us to the finals. It's a fine line between victory and defeat, because it's a lottery. If he had won the World Cup, he'd have shut everyone up."
In an intimate talk with the programme "No Somos Nadie", he advised Messi not to listen to criticism, drawing from personal experience. "I don't know how it is for him, but I learned to take myself away from my work, although it was very hard. To learn not to give too much importance to a comment is very different.
"The kid must be crying in the corners because one day he'll send them all to hell. I hope that when he takes a step back the country will appreciate him."
