Maradona: Messi doesn't have to prove himself with World Cup

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Football legend Diego Maradona has strongly backed his fellow Argentine football icon Lionel Messi and urged him to ignore his critics as the Barcelona footballer is gearing up for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, chasing the elusive silverware in his career.

Argentina last won the football showpiece in 1986, a team that Maradona captained, and the legend was quick to defend Messi's love of the game and devotion to his country.

The former Argentina captain, under whose coaching Messi played the 2010 World Cup, said: "I think Messi should speak his mind. It's not up to us to say what Messi should say or do. Messi always showed he loves football, and that doesn't change whether he plays or doesn't play in a World Cup, they won't take his passport away for that. Messi is Messi, with or without a World Cup."

Argentina's forward Lionel Messi participates in a team training session at the City Academy training complex in Manchester, northwest England on March 21. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, Maradona also gave his views on FIFA approval of video reviews to help referees at the 2018 World Cup, starting in June. The landmark decision on using technology came two weeks after FIFA voted to write VAR into the laws of soccer.

"In 1986 you did not have today's technology. It was impossible. They blamed the referee, but the 85,000 people in that stadium in Mexico did not see my hand. Now they say 'Yes I saw it,' but they saw the photos, they saw the replays.," he said.

"They had the VAR, but only after the match. I think that technology now is doing a good job in football. Technology is pervading even our children's lives, with the video games, and I think it will be at the forefront for transparency in this new FIFA," Maradona explained.