Lionel Messi’s grandfather has expressed his dissatisfaction with the international soccer superstar’s performance in the 2015 Copa America.
Antonio Cuccitini told Radio Casilda (via Goal.com’s Enis Koylu) on July 9 Messi was “lazy” during the tournament.
“Some of him was there,” Cuccitini said. “Triumphs are the greatest things there are. But the last three games he was bad. He was lazy.”
Messi scored just one goal in this year’s Copa America. Argentina lost to Chile in a penalty shootout in the Copa America Final on July 4, per Koylu.
The Argentinians were shooting for their first Copa America title since 1993. Chile’s first Copa America championship couldn’t have come at a better time, as it won on its home soil.
Messi did not talk to reporters after the loss to Chile. ESPN FC’s Adriana Garcia says he “turned down the award as the most valuable player of the tournament.”
Despite the loss, Messi thanked the fans for their support on his official Facebook page (translated to English) on July 7:
“There’s nothing more painful in football than losing a final. But I don’t want to leave it any longer to say thank you to everyone who has always supported us and continued to during the tough moments.”
Messi posted the message while he was on vacation in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, per Garcia.
Messi is seriously considering going on a hiatus from the Argentinian national team because of the criticism he has been receiving in his country for not being able to sustain the form that has made him known at FC Barcelona, per Argentina’s Ole.
Prior to the 2015 Copa America, Messi and his fellow Argentinians lost to Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final. Messi was part of the Argentinian squads which won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, per ESPN FC.
Garcia stresses Messi has scored 46 goals in 103 matches since his debut for Argentina’s international senior team a decade ago.
Messi enjoyed success after the FIFA World Cup loss to Germany when he returned to FC Barcelona. His 60 goals in 2014-15 helped Barca win the Primera Division, Champions League and Copa Del Rey, per ESPN FC.