Sven-Goran Eriksson: 'Lionel Messi has to step up at World Cup'

Sven-Goran Eriksson has claimed that it is now or never for Argentina forward Lionel Messi at the World Cup.

Messi, who is Barcelona's all-time top scorer at the age of 26, has come in for criticism in certain quarters for his inability to reproduce his club form on the international stage.

Ahead of the Brazil tournament, former England coach Eriksson believes that Messi must deliver in South America if he is to be talked about alongside compatriot Diego Maradona, who is widely regarded as one of the finest players of all time.

He told the Daily Mail: "This is [Messi's] chance to be as big as Diego Maradona. And if he doesn't take it now, it will never happen.

"If you like football, you like him because it is art. What he can do with the ball, in no space at all, I've not seen anyone else do it."

Messi is the only player to have won the Ballon d'Or four times.