MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 23:11:30| >> :120:51944:51944:

Juan Roman Riquelme: 'Argentina normal without Lionel Messi'

Juan Roman Riquelme says that Argentina, who are currently struggling to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, are just "a normal team" without Lionel Messi.

Juan Roman Riquelme has claimed that Argentina are just "a normal team" without the presence of Lionel Messi.

Argentina are currently struggling to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, with the South American nation sitting down in fifth position in their qualification table.

Messi has only featured in five of Argentina's last 12 competitive matches, and despite the presence of the likes of Sergio Aguero, Angel di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain, Riquelme has claimed that Messi makes all the difference for Edgardo Bauza's side.

"Argentina without Messi is a normal team, but this of course the best player in the world," Riquelme told Canal 13. "The same thing would happen to Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo."

Riquelme, who retired from professional football in 2014 after a spell with Argentinos Juniors, scored 17 times in 51 appearances for Argentina between 1997 and 2008.

ID:293767: cacheID:293767:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1761:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Lionel Messi reacts to Nando's goal during the Champions League quarter-final between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid on April 5, 2016
Read Next:
Messi "worried" about groin injury
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!