Diego Maradona has questioned the leadership of Barcelona star Leo Messi while with Argentina.

The World Cup winner was speaking about the Argentina national team and discussed the No.10, suggesting that Messi's pre-match behaviour should rule him out of a leadership role.

"He does ask for it on the pitch, but before speaking to teammates he'll go and play the Playstation," Maradona said of Messi in an interview with Mexican programme 'La Ultima Palabra'.

"For me it's difficult to talk, but it's pointless wanting to make a man who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a match into the leader.

"Messi is Messi at Barcelona and Messi is Messi with Argentina.

"I wouldn't call up Messi, but never say never.

"There's a need to take pressure off him.

"There's a need to take the leadership away from Messi, as we want him to be Messi, which he wouldn't be."