World Cup 2018: 5 reasons why Lionel Messi has been average for Argentina 

#4 Too much pressure on him

So much pressure

Argentina is a country known for being mad about football. Diego Maradona instilled a craze that will forever live on and with Lionel Messi, the love for football just goes to a different level for the Argentines.

But this also has a downside as Messi feels accountable for every loss that Argentina face when he is on the pitch. In the first two games – especially against Croatia – Messi gave the impression that he wanted the earth to swallow him and take him away from the limelight.

The stress was clear on his face – he was carrying the weight of the nation that is dying to see the trophy come back for the first time since 1986. They came close in 2014 but just fell short.

And the pressure from that loss perhaps still plays in his head.