Opinion: Messi's Mess - Why the World won't miss 'club players' Messi and Salah

Let's put the record straight, Messi is history, not just in this World Cup but for several years now, its just that the fans weren't convinced. Now here is the evidence after 90 minutes against Croatia - Argentina goaless, Messi -0. All those who compare the Barcelona 'great' to Maradona forget just one important stat - Mexico 1986 and Napoli champions of Serie A, not once but twice.

The 'Messiah', on the other hand, plays for a club team who would have won countless Champions League and club matches even without him but for Maradona it was different - he carried the hopes of a nation - and delivered.

And what do the stats really say? Messi has scored 64 goals for Argentina in 126 appearances before the World Cup, Maradona, on the other hand, scored 34 times for his country in just 91 appearances. Importantly, Maradona took Napoli to the pinnacle of domestic soccer twice in 1987 and 1989 - almost singlehandedly.

Messi may have a say in boot design but for ardent football followers, he is more of a "club player" than a World Cup player

Messi may have a say in boot design but for ardent football followers, he is more of a "club player" than a World Cup player and almost a creation of Adidas who are too busy to see him sell more boots. There is also a "temperamental flaw" most easily evident when he failed to win the Copa America for Argentina in 2016 while missing a crucial penalty and promptly announced his retirement only to be called back by eager fans.

Will history repeat itself after Argentina's campaign this time as well? Maybe it would.

The same also can be said about Mo Salah. The Egyptian came into the World Cup covered in glory as the highest goal scorer in the recently concluded English Premier League, he was also instrumental in taking Liverpool all the way to the Champions League final where he was stopped by Ronaldo's Real Madrid.

Playing for Liverpool is not the same as playing for Egypt in a World Cup match. Goals don't come easy, stars are marked by at least 3 defenders forever hacking them down and then there is the inevitable pressure of match play and expectations from fans do a club double, but it is never so easy.

Players like Messi and Salah are never provided open spaces, their weaknesses and strengths are studied minutely and teams like Iceland and Croatia often have one plan of action - stop Messi and automatically Argentina will be stopped

Players like Messi and Salah are never provided open spaces, their weaknesses and strengths are studied minutely and teams like Iceland and Croatia often have one plan of action - stop Messi and automatically Argentina will be stopped. This also brings us to another point - the case of a second striker.

Remember Maradona did not score a single goal in the historic World Cup final in Mexico in 1986. It was Jose Brown who struck first for Argentina and then Valdano made it 2-1 and eventually that man Burruchaga scored the winning goal after a cheeky pass from Maradona. Bottomline - it takes a team to win the World Cup, cannot be won by one man which even the great Pele would testify.

However, in an era where the word "great" is used lightly and truckloads of goals for club means fans think the player is already a God serves as a deterrent when it comes to the big stage - playing for the country in a World Cup match.

Don't be surprised if Argentina fails to change gears even in the last game against Nigeria and Messi screams Retirement. He would then be following his own very predictable script, keep yourself fresh for club and give Argentina the boot.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)