Former Manchester City defender, Pablo Zabaleta has noted that Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi is very sad despite the 2-1 win over Nigeria in their World Cup last group game on Tuesday.
Nigeria suffered a 2-1 win in the hands of the Albiceleste to exit the 2018 World Cup group stage.
Zabaleta, who was Messi’s national teammate, noted that pressures were weighing down the Barcelona star.
Before managing a goal against Nigeria, Messi has struggled in Russia thus far, missing a penalty in his side’s 1-1 draw with Iceland, before struggling in the stunning 3-0 defeat to Croatia.
“The happiest I saw Lionel Messi when I played alongside him for Argentina was in 2012 – he scored a hat-trick against Brazil in New York, and he played the whole game with freedom and a smile on his face,” he told BBC Sport column.
“His body language was completely the opposite before the Croatia game on Thursday. To see Leo looking so stressed and unhappy at this World Cup was a real worry.
“He is my friend as well as my former team-mate and I felt really sorry for him. It is very unusual to see him like that, but it was a sign of what was going on in his head.
“At times like this, there is a huge pressure on him because people expect too much, and for him to do everything for the national team.
“I was not surprised he struggled, in what was a disastrous defeat for us. As a player myself, I know that if you go into a game and you don’t really enjoy it then it is very difficult to play well.”
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