Lionel Messi legacy being damaged by whining over corruption

After the Copa America third place game that featured Argentina and Chile, Lionel Messi had some whiny comments over the corruption in the tournament.

Lionel Messi has struggled in international competition since the 2014 World Cup Final where his team lost to the Germans, and now he is taking it out on CONMEBOL. We cannot speak on the corruption because it is impossible to know whether it is true or not, however one can assume due past allegations in South America, that there is a small chance of its validity.

Regardless, Messi chose to give his thoughts on the subject and according to The Mirror, this is what he had to say,

"Messi said: “There is no doubt, the whole thing is set up for Brazil. I hope the VAR and referees don’t play any part in the final and that Peru can compete but it looks tough to me. I did not want to be part of this corruption, we shouldn’t have to be part of this disrespect we suffered during the Copa America."

Now the Barcelona player faces a possible two-year suspension from CONMEBOL as a result of his questioning remarks. The refereeing was indeed poor in some parts of the tournament, but nonetheless, the 32 year-old has no place to be making those remarks.

It is time he finally took responsibility for Argentina’s poor play instead of shifting the blame on field conditions, referees, or corruption in the federation. Because to anyone watching, Brazil looked like far and away the best team of the tournament. Without Neymar Jr., their free-flowing attack led by Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus was nearly unstoppable, and with Alisson in goal, nobody could score from open play.

It has been debated for the past couple years, but it is time to really start the conversation. When Messi is not around his star-studded support cast at Barcelona, he crumbles under the pressure of international football. He has always under performed the hype given to him by the fans, even enough that Diego Maradona has questioned his leadership.

These comments do not help either. Messi is a role model all around the world for children, and he is setting a poor example by constantly whining when things do not go his way. It is time for him to step up and face the music if he actually wants to go down as the greatest of all time.