Hernán Crespo, former River Plate and Argentina National Team striker, defended Lionel Messi from the criticism that the Barcelona captain receives for his time with the Albiceleste.
"It's very difficult to be Messi, no one can put themselves in his place just as no one could, at the time, put themselves in (Diego) Maradona's place. It's impossible to know what they think and what they experience," Crespo said to Olé.
Next, the former Inter Milan forward did not hide his joy in seeing Messi with the Argentina national team jersey. "It makes me happy to see him play for the national team. I would love, as an Argentine, to see him become a World Cup champion. Messi is a guy who has been at a very high level for many years, he gets fouled, gets up and moves forward, always working," added the current coach of Defensa y Justicia in the Argentine Super League.
Crespo said that Messi is an athlete who will go down in history and is already more than a great soccer player. "His work goes beyond being a player or an athlete, he is an example of professionalism, with seriousness, honesty, always correct. Messi has transcended more than what we believe at a global level and I think he is much more than a great soccer player," he said.
Crespo was a teammate of Messi in the Argentina National Team that played in the 2006 World Cup.