Maradona won't tolerate Messi criticism: 'I thank God he is Argentine'

With or without the World Cup, Lionel Messi is a phenomenon, according to Argentina legend Diego Maradona.

The 56-year-old dismissed what is a common criticism against Messi, who has never won a major title with his country. The idea that the Barcelona superstar needs to add a World Cup to his already jam-packed trophy cabinet - which includes eight La Liga crowns and four Champions League titles - doesn't sit well with Maradona.

"I am not going to tolerate that people say Messi is not the phenomenon that he is because he did not win a World Cup," Maradona told TyC Sports, courtesy of ESPN FC. "Messi is a great player, regardless of whether he won the World Cup or not.

"At the age of 56, I can say that I have never seen anyone like Messi. I thank God that Messi is an Argentine. We have Messi, the Pope, and me."

Maradona coached Messi in a forgettable 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa, where the pint-sized attacker failed to score a single goal as Argentina lost to Germany in the quarter-finals.

Since then, Maradona has watched from afar as his former pupil fell short in heartbreaking circumstances of winning the quadrennial tournament (in 2014), as well as the Copa America (in 2015 and 2016 on penalties).

Maradona hoisted the World Cup trophy in 1986 after scoring five times in Mexico, but in what can be considered a veiled dig at Messi's current international teammates, Maradona argued he had the supporting cast to go all the way.

"Why should we burden him with claims that he is not a phenomenon if he does not win the World Cup? I won it because I got to play with guys like (RicardO) Giusti, (Jorge) Burruchaga, (Nery) Pumpido, (Oscar) Ruggeri, and many more."