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Diego Simeone slams Lionel Messi and praises Cristiano Ronaldo in attack on Argentina

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He's no Ronaldo: Simeone rages with Lionel Messi in leaked audio after Argentina defeat — Lionel Messi faced criticism for his performance against Croatia (Picture: Reuters)

Diego Simeone hit out at Lionel Messi and suggested the Barcelona superstar cannot raise his game in an average team the way Cristiano Ronaldo can after Argentinas shock loss to Croatia.

Argentina are on the brink of an early World Cup exit after a 3-0 defeat to Croatia and Messi cut a deflated figure through-out much of the game on Thursday night.

Messis performance was far off the heights he has reached for Barcelona and the forwards display was in stark contrast to Ronaldos superb showings for Portugal.

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Despite Portugal lacking quality, Ronaldo has led from the front, scoring four goals in two games.

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Simeone is Argentinian himself and his angry comments post-match in a Whatsapp message were leaked by Cadena COPE.

Messi is very good but that is because he is accompanied by excellent players, Simenoe said speaking to his assistant German Burgos.

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group D - Argentina vs Croatia - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - June 21, 2018 Argentina fans after the match REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado — Argentina fans were enraged by the result (Picture: Reuters)

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But if you had to choose between Messi and Ronaldo for a normal team, who would you choose?

Simeone watched the game and not only slammed Messi, but coach Jorge Sampaoli who has come under fire for his tactics.

Sampaoli decided to deploy three at the back against Croatia despite playing with a back four in Argentinas World Cup opener.

Croatia's Ante Rebic (180 celebrates scoring the opening goal during the group D match between Argentina and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Thursday, June 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) — Argentina made several costly mistakes (Picture: AP)

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JUNE 20: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Portugal and Morocco at Luzhniki Stadium on June 20, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) — Cristiano Ronaldo has been in incredible form at the World Cup (Picture: Getty)

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group D - Argentina vs Croatia - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - June 21, 2018 Argentina's Lionel Messi looks dejected after Croatia's Luka Modric scores their second goal REUTERS/Matthew Childs — (Picture: Reuters)

Argentina have been poor in their two games, scoring just one goal and with elimination staring the two-time World Cup winners in the face, Simeone believes the entire set-up is to blame.

What we saw against Croatia is the picture of what has happened over the past four years, he said.

It is anarchy. There is no leadership, either from the coach, who should be leading, or the players, who should be led. The team is lost, it is wrong.

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