Javier Mascherano speaks about the immense pressure Lionel Messi faces regularly

Javier Mascherano says he couldn’t stand being Messi

Lionel Messi’s Barcelona and Argentina team-mate Javier Mascherano says that he cannot imagine being under the same spotlight as Messi is for club and country according to the Mirror. Both Messi and Mascherano are currently on international duty in Texas ahead of friendlies against fellow South American nation Bolivia and North American neighbours Mexico.

After failing to score in both World cup knockout matches and the Copa America final, the four-time Ballon d'Or winner has come in for some heavy criticism for his performances for the Albiceleste from home and abroad despite him turning down the player of the tournament at the Copa in Chile this year. He scored just once on Argentina's way to defeat, in the final where they succumbed to a penalty shootout defeat to hosts Chile.

A lot of Messi’s Argentine team-mates have backed the Barcelona superstar in the wake of criticism of his performances for the national team. Lazio captain and Messi’s international team-mate Lucas Biglia said, "We have to thank Leo for choosing to play for a country that turned its back on him.”

Now Mascherano, who saw first-hand Messi at his brilliant best as he led Barcelona to a European and domestic treble last season, has raised his voice in support of the newly crowned European player of the year.

In an interview, he offered his backing to the Rosario native saying “I couldn't stand being Messi.You have to be special to be in his place. It's always easy to talk about others before talking about yourself.

“What you have to take into account is that Leo keeps coming, he doesn't hide. And he still does even when his wife is about to give birth.

“We know the obligation that we have because we haven't achieved anything for so long and that makes the defeats even harder to take. But we have to live with it and try to make sure that it doesn't become a habit to lose in finals."

With the trophies eluding the little magician still at the international level some people in Argentina have started to doubt the commitment of the little magician, however Argentina coach Tata Martino has also supported Messi.

He said: “If I was Messi I would have left the national team some time ago and I would keep playing in Barcelona.”

However, the diminutive Argentine has quashed rumours of retiring from the national team by stating that he is fully committed to the Albiceleste.