Diego Maradona: 'Don't blame Lionel Messi if Argentina fail at the World Cup'

Argentina legend Diego Maradona has told his country not to blame Lionel Messi should they be knocked out of the World Cup.

Argentina have dragged themselves through the showpiece in Brazil without playing particularly well, with Maradona now suggesting that any potential failure should be shared around the whole team.

"We still haven't got started," Maradona told reporters in Brazil.

"They need to get it into their heads that we can't be 'Sporting Messi'.

"Maybe he can score a great goal ... but if it doesn't come off for the kid, we can't jump on him tomorrow as if he's guilty of the Argentine disaster."

Argentina take on Belgium in the quarter-finals on Saturday evening.