Argentina's former head coach: Messi lacks quality to be captain

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In an interview with the ole.com, former head coach of Argentinean men's football team, Alfredo Rubén Basile, said that Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is not the leader of Argentina's football team and lacks the quality to be captain.

"Our national team needs one or two players with leadership that can be reflected on personality, not football skill. Only a man like this can unite everyone in the field. Messi is like superman with his football skills and is a marvelous shooter. But he [does not] have leadership [quality] for a captain," said Basile, adding that Nicolás Otamendi from Manchester City is a good choice for captain.

Basile said Messi lacks leadership for captain of Argentina's football team. /VCG Photo

"I think Otamendi is the only one in our team with such leadership. I've watched his game in Manchester City. He's always calm and has a clear head in the field. (Javier) Mascherano is also a good choice. But I don't know if he can make into the starting line-up," Basile said.

Though Messi is one of the world's only two men to have won five Ballon d'Or awards and has performed outstandingly in FC Barcelona, he has never been able to take the FIFA World Cup for Argentina. Many fans and reporters have blamed him for relying on the system in Barcelona and Basile is not the first Argentinean football celebrity to criticize him.

July 13, 2014: Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany hugs Lionel Messi of Argentina after Germany's 1-0 victory in extra time during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. /VCG Photo

Former CABJ striker, "crazy" Martin Palermo, used to say that Messi is not a good leader: "Messi is not well prepared to shoulder responsibility. He has not played leader well and he will never do because he is not used to being a leader but only to playing with Barcelona's system."

Though he thinks Messi can't take on the mantle of a team leader, Basile still considers him the only hope for Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup. "(I hope) he never catches cold, never pukes and never gets hurt because he is our only hope for the trophy."