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

#3 Average team

Not entirely a great bunch

Argentina, unlike their archrivals Brazil, don’t have a great team. This has almost always been the case for La Albiceleste. While this is a country that has produced some of the best attackers of all time, Argentina have never consistently produced quality midfielders and defenders.

Now let’s look at Brazil. The land of Joga Bonito have always had great players in every area of the pitch in almost every generation. From Cafu and Roberto Carlos to Dani Alves and Marcelo; from Ronaldinho to Kaka to Coutinho; from Ronaldo to Neymar – Brazil have always produced some of the best players to ever grace the pitch.

Messi, while he might have some great attacking team-mates, doesn’t boast the same quality of players in midfield and defence.

As a result, there could be a lack of confidence in Messi regarding his team-mates – which in turn is hampering is own performance.