AFA president asks Messi to play less for Barcelona ahead of World Cup

Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia hopes that Lionel Messi will take it easy over the next few months in anticipation of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, revealing that he has asked Barcelona to reduce its reliance on its star man in order to keep Messi fit and healthy for the summer's affair.

Messi has played a part in all of Barcelona's La Liga and Champions League fixtures this season, while also figuring in five Copa del Rey tilts. The workload isn't unusual for the 30-year-old, though it is somewhat concerning for Jorge Sampaoli's side - Argentina will need Messi in tip-top shape in hopes of repeating an appearance in the World Cup final, though with a better outcome.

"We hope all the players arrive at the level they are at, which is very high," Tapia told TyC Sports, as translated by ESPN FC's Adriana Garcia.

"(Sergio) Aguero's (level) is terrific and Messi is always there, high up. This is important for us, the executives, and the coaching staff to see the level that (Messi) is at.

"With Messi, we spoke about looking after him, playing less than he has, and if there are games that don't merit Messi to be present, then for him not to play in order to take care of himself a bit more, I think that's good."

One may wonder if that request has been disregarded at Camp Nou. Messi leads the team in minutes played for outfield players in La Liga, though he has featured in 100 fewer minutes than Luis Suarez in Champions League action.

And with Atletico Madrid closing the top-of-the-table gap in La Liga to just seven points, Barcelona cannot afford to relent in its title pursuit.

Still, manager Ernesto Valverde seems to have taken to heart the idea that his team must battle on without Messi at times. He dropped his leading scorer for a match against local rival Espanyol earlier in February, citing a need for rest.