GOAL 

Javier Mascherano has admitted that he "couldn't stand" being Lionel Messi because of the criticism and immense pressure he faces.

The four-time Ballon d'Or winner is universally loved at Barcelona, but has been the subject of harsh criticism in Argentina for failing to be as decisive for his national team as he is for the Blaugrana.

And Barca and Argentina team-mate Mascherano has admitted that he does not envy the 28-year-old forward.

"I couldn't stand being Messi," he told reporters. "You have to be special to be in his place.

"It's always easy to talk about others before talking about yourself. What you have to take into account is that Leo keeps coming to the Argentina team, he doesn't hide.

"And he still does even when his wife is about to give birth."

Argentina have reached the final of their last two major competitions - the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America - but lost out each time, and Mascherano feels they have to get over it if they are to win a trophy.

"There's no point in crying about the losses but there is in asking what the reasons are so that it doesn't happen again.

"We know the obligation that we have because we haven't achieved anything for so long and that makes the defeats even harder to take.

"But we have to live with it and try to make sure that it doesn't become a habit to lose in finals."