BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Mar 29 – An uncharacteristically angry Lionel Messi revealed on Friday how he struggles to deal with criticism of his performances for Argentina’s national team, saying that even his six-year-old son was questioning why he was judged so harshly in his country.

The 31-year-old’s return to the national side last week after an eight-month absence was marred by a humiliating 3-1 loss to Venezuela in a friendly. A groin strain then forced him to sit out an unconvincing 1-0 victory over Morocco.

“My six year old son Thiago asked me why they were killing me in Argentina. He watches videos on YouTube all the time, and he asks me why they don’t want me,” Messi said.

“I have to go through those things, but it doesn’t matter.”

The Barcelona star took a break from international duty after a disappointing World Cup last year, but his highly anticipated return proved a flop as Argentina lost to unfancied Venezuela in Madrid.

“I want to win something with the national team, and I’ll keep trying,” Messi told Argentine radio station Radio Club October.

He said he would continue to play for his country even though “a lot of people told me not to do it, not to suffer again.”

Argentine fans and journalists have often taken their frustrations at under-par performances by the national team out on Messi, who is always expected to perform at the levels he does for Barcelona, where he is surrounded by star players.

Messi hit out at repeated lies about him in the media.

“People buy into everything that’s said. So then I’m the ‘son of a bitch’ and the ones that feel the hurt most of all is my family. There are many lies told. There are new lies every day.”

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Shujaa target 10 points per leg to save season

rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Snow sinks two eagles to take Day One lead on Nyali’s KCB Road to the Mastersrn

rn rn Golfrn rn rn rn 6 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Angry Messi says son questions why Argentines criticize himrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Sports Kenya bows to pressure, Gor back at Kasaranirn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 9 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Guardiola, Sarri open to stopping matches to confront racismrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn New Spurs stadium ‘best in the world’ for Pochettinorn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 12 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Leclerc on top as Ferrari take control in Bahrainrn

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 13 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Boxingrn rn rn rn rn Zarika stops hard punching Phiri to defend WBC titlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Harambee Stars lose to Ghana to finish secondrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Van Dijk house hunting after landlord Solskjaer lands Utd jobrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Tanzania beats Uganda to qualify for AFCONrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Wait continues for Nyayo Stadium openingrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn A day in the life of Harambee Stars Captain Victor Wanyamarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Magufuli gifts Taifa Stars players with landrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kasarani miss might push Gor to Machakosrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Logarusic open to Kenya coaching returnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Snow sinks two eagles to take Day One lead on Nyali’s KCB Road to the Masters

rn rn rn Golfrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Raja Casablanca end 19-year wait for second African Super Cup

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Angry Messi says son questions why Argentines criticize him

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Defiant Vettel leads Ferrari domination

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Sports Kenya bows to pressure, Gor back at Kasarani

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL GOR MAHIA ADVANCE TO CAF CONFEDERATION CUP QUARTERS?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Guardiola, Sarri open to stopping matches to confront racism

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

New Spurs stadium ‘best in the world’ for Pochettino

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Leclerc on top as Ferrari take control in Bahrain

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Paris Marathon sponsor Schneider Electric empowers Kenyan women

rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

How the EPL title race and top-four battle will be decided

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Snow sinks two eagles to take Day One lead on Nyali’s KCB Road to the Mastersrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Raja Casablanca end 19-year wait for second African Super Cuprn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Angry Messi says son questions why Argentines criticize himrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Defiant Vettel leads Ferrari dominationrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Sports Kenya bows to pressure, Gor back at Kasaranirn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tZarika stops hard punching Phiri to defend WBC titlern

rn Boxingrn rn Sunday, 24th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tHarambee Stars lose to Ghana to finish secondrn

rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 24th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tVan Dijk house hunting after landlord Solskjaer lands Utd jobrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tTanzania beats Uganda to qualify for AFCONrn

rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 24th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWait continues for Nyayo Stadium openingrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 28th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tA day in the life of Harambee Stars Captain Victor Wanyamarn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tMagufuli gifts Taifa Stars players with landrn

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 25th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKasarani miss might push Gor to Machakosrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tLogarusic open to Kenya coaching returnrn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Snow sinks two eagles to take Day One lead on Nyali’s KCB Road to the Mastersrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Raja Casablanca end 19-year wait for second African Super Cuprn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Angry Messi says son questions why Argentines criticize himrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Defiant Vettel leads Ferrari dominationrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Sports Kenya bows to pressure, Gor back at Kasaranirn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */