Messi should stop with Barcelona and focus on Argentina team
Former Argentina player Óscar Ruggeri has spoken about the steps Lionel Messi needs to take to make this World Cup in Russia, likely his last, a true lagacy.
The former Argentina player Óscar Ruggeri is clear about what Lionel Messi needs to do to help his chances of leading Argentina to much-needed glory at this summer's World Cup. Stop playing for his club, Barcelona.
Barça don't need Messi now
Speaking to 90 minutes Fox, he said that this weekend's Copa del Rey final should be his last of the season to allow him to concentrate fully on his national team.
"Do you think Barcelona will lose the Spanish championship if Messi doesn't play again?
"Messi can call Barcelona president and tell him 'this is my World Cup; I'm going to dedicate myself to the national team'."
Ruggeri added that the Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli also needed direct contact from their mercurial number 10.
"He [Messi] must also call the national team coach and tell him that he is going to be completely concentrated on the World Cup" as he recalled his victorious 1986 team and their preparation.
Two months to prepare for glory
"Before Mexico 1986 we had 65 days to focus, 65 days before the World Cup we were all together. What do you think the rest of the players are going to do if Messi goes to focus with the coach?"
That 1986 World Cup win was the last time an Argentine team held the famous trophy aloft. Then they had the leadership of Maradona, now they want their new 'Messiah' to take them one step further than the final of 2014.
