LIONEL MESSI has hit back at claims he influenced Argentina’s team selection for their World Cup qualifiers.
The Barcelona ace almost single handedly rescued his country from the brink of suffering an embarrassing knockout from the tournament during the qualifiers.
He scored a stunning hat-trick against Ecuador last month which ensured the two-time World Champions would be on the plane to Russia.
But despite his heroics, Messi has been blamed for having his say on who should play for Argentina.
It comes after Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi remains without an international call up since 2013 despite scoring 24 last campaign and hitting 11 in the 12 Serie A matches.
Icardi caused huge controversy when he married the ex-wife of Messi’s close friend and former team-mate Maxi Lopez.
But Messi, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has strongly denied the accusations.
In an interview with TyC Sports, he said: “It was said that I didn’t want Icardi coming to the national team, but I’ve never decided if a player comes or not.
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“Now it’s coming out that all that was said was a lie. I never said I didn’t want Icardi in the national team, nor did I make anyone leave other players out.
“Telling great players that they’re only playing because they’re Messi’s friend is disrespectful — and it’s also a total lie because I don’t run the national team.”
Messi also defended Gonzalo Higuain who has been left out of the recent squads.
He has been criticised for failing to turn up in big matches including the 2014 World Cup final defeat against Germany.
Messi added: “We played the final of a World Cup, two Copa America finals, at least two of the three [we] deserved to win.
“We did not win — and we all went through that. [Higuain] had the situations he had and they took it against him, but we are used to being told atrocities about us.
“We all had hard times, beyond what was achieved. There was a lot of hard blows to this group. I talk to everyone, we have a great relationship, we have played together for many years and we know each other.”
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