Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team is one of the most peculiar relationships in world football.Despite the fact the Barcelona legend is arguably the greatest to have ever played the game, he doesn't receive universal adoration in his homeland.Diego Maradona is the favoured son, mainly due to the fact that Messi is seen as more Catalan than Argentinian - he's never played club football in the South American country.The country's losses in three consecutive finals between 2014 and 2016 - two Copa Americas and one World Cup - didn't exactly help Messi's case.He briefly retired from the national team, before returning and single-handedly guiding them to the 2018 World Cup, where they really struggled.Messi managed just one goal in Russia as Argentina crashed out in the last-16 and there has been a lot of speculation about the 31-year-old's international future.And last night, reports came from Argentina declaring that Messi is taking a break from the team despite interim manager Lionel Scaloni trying to convince him.

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A tough start for the new boss.

It's a bold move from Messi, but one which may not be as foolish as it seems. He needs more rest in his older years and the team need to learn to cope without him.

And Carlos Tevez has given quite a damning assessment of the news while speaking to the media before Boca Juniors' game with Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy.

Tevez said to reporters: "It's understandable if Messi doesn't come back to the Argentina National Team. I was in his spot and the truth is that with so much criticism, sometimes, I didn't want to go."

It just shows the pressure top players are put on when playing for their country.

While they should expect it, fans still need to remember that they're still only human.

Tevez also said he is relishing playing against his former Argentina teammate in Barcelona.

"It is always beautiful to play against him," Tevez added. "When I played together with him, that made me happy.

"So to be able to confront him or have a closer look at him now, it will make me happy too."