Lionel Messi could’ve played his final World Cup game yesterday after Argentina were beaten 4-3 by France in the Round of 16. The talismanic Barcelona star could yet have another crack at the next WC in Qatar, but he will be 35 by the time it comes calling.
Here is how the major newspapers saw Messi’s performance v France
Independent– They gave him a 6/10, and reckoned that he needed a striker to work with, and that Aguero was introduced too later off the bench.
L Equipe– The French paper gave Messi a 5/10. The only French players who were given a 5 were Lloris and Giroud- all the remaining French players were rated higher than Messi.
FFT– Four Four Two also gave him a 5/10, agreeing with the Independent that he should’ve had a striker to work with.
DM– The Mail gave him a 6.5/10, rating him better than any Argentine player bar Angel di Maria, who scored one of the goals of the tournament
DS– The Star gave him a 7/10- the same rating that it gave Mercado, Otamendi, Mascherano and Aguero too.