Diego Maradona has jumped to the defence of Barcelona star Lionel Messi after another dismal campaign with Argentina.
Messi failed to sparkle for Argentina in the Copa America, just as he did in the World Cup last summer.
Maradona, the former World Cup coach, insisted: "It is hard to explain what he represented to his teammates and me. He was the one who most cried in my room when we were out against Germany and it gives me a lot of anger when they say he does not sing the anthem or is Spanish.
"I saw him lying on the floor and I think he was not guilty of anything. He did his job and is the best of our players by some distance."
Maradona added: "The biggest fear I have is that the players get bored and do not want to come to defend the jersey as they should."
