Valencia hero Mario Kempes has jumped to the defence of Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Argentina find themselves in a precarious position going in to their final qualifying match, against Ecuador in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Jorge Sampaoli's side are currently in sixth place in the South American qualifying group, having drawn their last three matches, scoring just one goal in the process. Victory against Ecuador would be enough to secure at least a play-off place.

Kempes, who won the World Cup on home turf in 1978, said "a World Cup without Argentina and without Messi would be a catastrophe," to Súper Deportivo Radio de Santa Fe.

"The only ones who would be happy if Messi doesn't go to the World Cup would be Maradona fans because, that way, they can keep saying that he's the best," the 63-year-old added.