Lionel Messi has seen the World Cup become “a revolver put to his head”, says Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli, with unnecessary pressure damaging a global superstar.
A man with five Ballons d’Or to his name and countless collective honours at Barcelona is yet to claim major silverware at senior international level.
He has reached finals of the Copa America and World Cup, but has never been able to get over the line and complete the most distinguished of resumes.
Messi will have another opportunity to get his hands on the most elusive of prizes in Russia this summer, but Sampaoli believes expectation levels are already spiralling out of control.
He has written in a book due to be released in April, from which "Viva", Clarin's Sunday magazine has been running snippets: "Messi has a revolver put to his head called the World Cup and if he doesn't win it, he's shot and killed.
"As a result, he can't enjoy his talent.
"What I find is that the negativity surrounding international football damages Messi."
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