Johannesburg: Daniel Alves comes right out and says it: Lionel Messi's best team is Barcelona, not Argentina.
Alves believes his Barca teammate doesn't play as well for Argentina as for the Spanish club simply because his national squad isn't as talented.
"I think that the reason Messi has difficulties with Argentina is because there is no comparison between Barcelona and Argentina," Brazil's right back said on Thursday. "With all respect to the players in Argentina, there is no comparison between the two. At Barcelona, he has players of his level."
Messi arrives at the World Cup as one of the tournament's biggest stars after winning FIFA's player of the year award last year. But his performances with Argentina have drawn criticism because he usually doesn't play at his Barcelona level.
Daniel Alves said Messi's starring role with the Argentina team doesn't allow him to share responsibility like he does at Barcelona.
"Messi is young," Daniel Alves said. "He has to carry the nation on his back and it's a big responsibility."
Besides Messi and Daniel Alves, Barcelona has 11 more players at the World Cup, tied with Chelsea for the most of any team. And there are plenty of talented teammates on the national squad, including Carlos Tevez, Diego Milito and Gonzalo Higuain.
"I won't change," Messi said last month. "I'll keep playing in the same way. "I hope to be able to do what I do (in Barcelona) in the national team without my form suffering, because that is what has made me able to achieve everything I have."
Daniel Alves, a reserve behind Maicon at right back, also said he will be rooting for Mexico in the World Cup opener on Friday.
"I have friends in the Mexican team, so I hope they come out victorious," he said. "I hope it's a great opening match."
Mexico defender Rafael Marquez also plays for Barcelona with Daniel Alves.
Five-time champion Brazil begins World Cup play against North Korea on Tuesday, then will face the Ivory Coast on June 20 and close play in Group G against Portugal on June 25.
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