Former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo has hit out at Lionel Messi’s Argentina teammates for not helping him perform his magic for the Albiceleste in the aftermath of a disappointing 1-1 draw in their 2018 World Cup opener against Iceland on Saturday.
Barcelona superstar and five-time Ballon D’Or winner Messi also missed a penalty that would have given them the win at the Spartak Stadium. Former Parma, Inter Milan and Chelsea hitman Crespo told Gazzetta dello Sport that unlike Argentine legend Diego Maradona, Messi cannot do it all on his own.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Messi had 11 shots without scoring -- setting a new Argentina record for the World Cup -- and was dejected at the final whistle.
"Let's start with a fact: Messi deserves a five [for his performance]," Crespo told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Of course, we expect more from him, but Messi is not Maradona, alone he does not win a World Cup. This must be understood first by all Argentinians, and then by his team-mates.”
Crespo was referring to Maradona’s 1986 World Cup performance when he carried the team to its maiden trophy virtually single-handedly.
"He is a phenomenon if he is put in the right conditions, like in Barcelona. Otherwise he is struggling,” Crespo, who won 64 caps for Argentina, added. "But tell me: who helped him against Iceland? [Angel] Di Maria did not get past his opponent once, the midfielders did not support him."
Argentine fans will hope that the rest of the team takes Crespo’s words to heart by the time take on Croatia in their second Group D game at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Thursday.
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