Lionel Messi has reportedly came under a deluge of harsh, and perhaps unjustified, criticism for allegedly delivering poor performance after PSG\u2019s narrow win over Real Madrid yesterday.<\/p>\n
The Argentine striker missed a crucial penalty in the 60th minute of the game and was mercilessly taken to task for it by the French media, in particular L\u2019Equippe who had given him a 3 out of 10 rating for his overall performance in the match.<\/p>\n
Messi\u2019s Argentina team-mate and compatriot, Sergio Aguero, has come out storming and enraged in defending the seven-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner, refuting the French press\u2019 denunciation of Messi and claimed on the contrary that his Argentine compatriot had a good performance, omitting the penalty miss. As reported by ESPN,\u00a0the striker said:<\/p>\n
\u201cLeo played well, he smashed it. Not just because he\u2019s a friend, he was really good, really active. It\u2019s a shame about the penalty, but after that he smashed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
L\u2019Equipe had pronounced Messi the worst player on the field, according to the French outlet. While it is true that the missed penalty could have proved costly, Messi was still one of the best players on the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn France, the magazines, the newspapers, they killed him. They are a**holes. I had an interview with a magazine in France, but I said no [because of the treatment of Messi],\u201d\u00a0Aguero added.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no secret that the former Barcelona captain has not had a scintillating start to life in Paris but it is also irrefutable that he still has been a decisive factor and motivator for the club on multiple occasions, particularly in the earlier Champions League matches. Messi, unfortunately, has become a victim of his own greatness \u2013 not unlike his great arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who is also having a paltrid run this period in the Premier League \u2013 for he will always be judged by the \u2018other-worldly\u2019 standards he has set for himself all these years.<\/p>\n
The 34-year-old had two shots on target, three blocked shots, four key passes and five successful dribbles against Real Madrid. In all \u2013 a pretty decent account of his overall performance.<\/p>\n
Hopefully the feeling of being so harshly and unfairly criticised after such a high-level display will stoke the fires of righteous indignation within the Barcelona legend.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, let\u2019s hope this latest episode will bring out the best version of Messi, reignited with fury.<\/p>\n
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