Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi insists he pays no attention to any criticism his performances for Argentina receive.
Messi has enjoyed a glittering domestic career at Camp Nou, but has failed to replicate that success with the national team.
The prolific forward won Olympic gold in 2008, however Argentina fell short in the final of the 2014 World Cup and were also runners-up in the 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas, the latter defeat seeing him briefly retire from international football.
Messi has often been the subject of criticism for Argentina s failures and the 29-year-old came in for more scrutiny after receiving a four-match ban for verbally abusing an assistant referee during a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Chile last month.
However, the 29-year-ol…
Stand-in Milan boss Daniele Bonera said he is awaiting news on Zlatan Ibrahimovic s injury sustained in Sunday s 3-1 victory over Napoli.
Ibrahimovic scored twice at Stadio San Paolo to take his tally for the Serie A season to 10 goals in six appearances before limping off 11 minutes from time.
The 39-year-old has been in inspired form for Milan since returning to the club in January, scoring 20 Serie A goals in 24 games – only Lazio s Ciro Immobile (23 in 27) and Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (29 in 24) have managed more in 2020.
But Ibrahimovic, who missed nearly a month of action after contracting coronavirus earlier in the season, may now be facing another spell on the sidelines after pulling up with an apparent hamstring issue against Napoli.
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Sunday s action at the Africa Cup of Nations will see two former winners go in search of much-needed points.
Algeria, champions in 1990 and three years ago, were held to a surprise draw by Sierra Leone on matchday one and sit second in Group E.
North African neighbours Tunisia, who won the tournament back in 2004, started their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Mali and are in desperate need of a result against Mauritania.
Mali will take on Gambia, while the Ivory Coast will look to consolidate top spot in their group when they meet Sierra Leone.
Gambia v Mali
Gambia are bidding to become the first debutants to win their opening two matches at the Africa Cup of Nations since Equatorial Guinea did so in 2012.
That said, Mali a…