The basketball star is staggered that the "crown jewel of Argentine sport" is under attack - despite leading the Albiceleste to two finals in a year
Argentine basketball icon Manu Ginobili has urged his compatriots to stop slating Lionel Messi, claiming the Barcelona ace will eventually get sick of the criticism and quit playing for the national team.
With Messi as their captain, the Albiceleste have reached the final of their last two tournaments - the 2014 World Cup and this year's Copa America.
However, they failed to lift the trophy on either occasion, losing 1-0 to Germany after extra-time in Rio just over 12 months ago, before then being beaten on penalties by tournament hosts Chile in Santiago earlier this month.
Those devastating defeats have prompted some Argentine pundits to question Messi's value to the national team and there have already been reports that the distraught forward has asked to be excused from his country's next fixture, a friendly against Mexico on September 8.
Ginobili, a four-time NBA champion, is stunned by the Barca star's treatment by certain sections of the process and now fears that Messi could soon walk away from international football for good.
"Messi is a monster: he has led us to the final of the last two tournaments," the renowned shooting guard told Radio Metro.
"It's really crazy to criticise the crown jewel of Argentine sport.
"One day, he's going to get sick of it and everyone will be left crying in the corner because he'll tell them to go to hell."
Messi, who left his native Rosario at 13 to move to Barcelona, inspired the Catalan club to a treble triumph last season and is the favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or.
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