Former Barcelona and Argentina player Diego Maradona has surprised everyone with his latests comments against Lionel Messi. After saying Messi was his worthy subsitute a few months ago, he has now offered a harsher view. "People need to stop going on about Messi needing to be pampered," he said in an interview with Olé.

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"We have the best player in the world, who can score four goals against Real Sociedad and then comes here and doesn't touch the ball. You have to ask yourselves, are you Argentine or Swedish? People need to stop going on about Messi needing to be pampered."

Maradona continued: "Messi should be treated like any other player who wears the national team's shirt. Like the best in the world, for better or worse. Still, it's not like Messi killed or raped someone, so we should not make a drama out of this."

Diego Armando Maradona commented that he was only offering constructive criticism. "Those that criticise [Messi] does it so that he can improve, perfect. That said, running a poll to ask if he should play for the national team or not, that is losing the plot. We should not be extremist, but neither should we get used to always finishing second either."