The world’s best footballer, Lionel Messi has voiced his frustration over the criticism he has received for his performances in an Argentina shirt, a perceived lack of effort and his decision not to sing the national anthem in a uncharacteristically outspoken interview with TyC.

Since making his Barcelona debut in 2004, Lionel Messi has been almost beyond comparison and the goals and trophies have flowed as La Pulga has continued to strengthen his claim as the greatest player of all time. For La Albiceleste, however, it has been quite a different story and every misplaced pass or Argentina defeat has led to Messi’s contribution being questioned. The decision to move to Barcelona as a child and his quiet nature has often been at odds with how many football supporters in Argentina envisage the side’s leader.

After leading Argentina to a World Cup final and a Copa América final, Messi feels that the side have not been given enough credit for these achievements.

“I get annoyed when they tell us put in more effort, you don’t feel the shirt. We were lucky enough to get to the final of the World Cup and the Copa America and it seems like we didn’t do anything.  We got to two finals, for f***’s sake. We didn’t win, what can you do, but we got to the final, we didn’t lose in the last-16.”

Getting beyond the quarter-finals at a World Cup was something that Argentina had not managed since 1990 before last year’s agonising defeat to Germany in the final and it is worth noting that without Messi the unwanted record may well have continued. The 28-year-old produced several match winning performances in both tournaments en route to the finals.

Messi continued on this subject: “Football is not just about effort. We had bad times in the national team for what we experienced. We lost the final of the World Cup against Germany who have great players and we had great chances to win it. With Chile it was the same and we lost on penalties.”

In addition to his criticism levelled at his performance, Messi has come under fire in the past over his decision not to sing the national anthem. “I get annoyed by the people who attack you without thinking. I won’t sing the national anthem on purpose. I don’t need to sing it to feel it. It reaches me, every person feels it in their own way. The Pumas cry, they feel it differently and that’s ok.”

Messi and Argentina will have another chance to end their trophy drought in 2016 when they travel to the United States for the Copa América and Gerardo Martino’s captain said: “I play with the national team always as a priority and I want to win everything I play. The Copa América is going to be great.”

First though Messi must attempt to lift another Club World Cup with Barcelona and ahead of a potential final against River Plate, he spoke positively about Los Millonarios and Marcelo Gallardo.

“Gallardo is very intelligent and for sure he will know how to play and have something prepared in his head. I think River has very good players who like to go out and play and go for the win. I do not know if they will do so or not, but I think they play very well. The main thing is their intensity. That is everything. You have to push to stay on top.”

Barcelona will play Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande on Thursday and River face Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Wednesday for a place in the final.