'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In the scintillating career of a certain Lionel Messi, the singular flaw has been the maestro's lack of success with Argentina on the international stage. Without a doubt, the star has dominated Europe's club scene, winning every eligible trophy with Barcelona and picking up a record number of Ballon d'Or awards.
However, Messi's achievements with his national side have been minute in comparison to his exploits at club level.
Remarkably, the star joined the national team in 2005, but only just won his first major trophy with Argentina when he lifted the Copa America trophy this year. It ended a trophy drought with La Albiceleste that lasted well over a decade.
But pundits and critics continue to ask: Why hasn't Lionel Messi been able to replicate his success at club level for the national team?
In Messi's defense, Argentina have reached three Copa America finals, as well as a World Cup final, and Messi has also won the Olympic gold medal. However, the lack of trophies at international level will remain a stain on the diminutive magician's career.
Some pundits have argued that Messi's consistent presence in the squad has forced the team to play around him, making him the essential cog in the wheel. With his most recent goal against Uruguay, the star has now scored 80 goals in 156 games for Argentina.
Undoubtedly, some players have struggled to reach the limelight under Argentina's banner, partly due to Messi's major influence in the squad. Some might argue that they just weren't good enough to compete with the star player, but others have explained that these players never got the opportunity to impress.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five such players who have suffered due to Messi's presence in the national team:
#5 Mauro Icardi | Paris Saint-Germain
Back in 2013, Mauro Icardi was called up to the international squad for the first time in his career. Scintillating seasons with Sampdoria and Inter Milan saw the star join the Argentine national team, but he ended up playing just once that year. Although he continued to play well for Inter, he wasn't called up again until 2017.
His presence in the team in 2017 and 2018 was scarce, with the star playing just seven games in total. While he was named in preliminary squads, he never got picked for the matchday squads. Despite being one of Inter Milan's key players for six seasons, Icardi never really featured for the Argentina side.
#4 Paulo Dybala | Juventus
Since Juventus signed Paulo Dybala in 2015, the star has gone from strength to strength, winning multiple trophies with the Bianconeri and becoming a key part of the side. Although his goalscoring diminished during the three seasons Cristiano Ronaldo spent at the club, he's back to his scoring ways with six goals in ten appearances this season.
For the national team, however, it has been a different case for the star. Under Messi's massive shadow alongside injury problems, Dybala has rarely played consistently for Argentina. In the last two seasons, the star has played just once for his home country, and sadly, he has only two international goals to his name.
#3 Lucas Alario | Bayer Leverkusen
Throughout his entire five-year stint and counting with Bayer, Lucas Alario has consistently crossed the double digit mark for goals. He was just as efficient while playing for River Plate in Argentina, in which he once scored 17 goals in 28 games across all competitions in the 2016-17 season.
His brilliance for River Plate gave the star his national team call-up, but he's had to struggle to find any playing time.
Ever since his call-up to the national team in 2016, the star has struggled to play more than four times in a single year. Messi's irreplaceable presence on the field has relegated the Bayer star to the bench for most of his international career, and he has just nine appearances for Argentina in six years.
#2 Joaquin Correa | Inter Milan
Starting his career with Estudiantes, Joaquin Correa moved to Sampdoria where he struggled to score goals consistently. His short stint with Sevilla and later Lazio have been filled with inconsistencies in front of goal.
However, this season has seen the star score four goals in seven Serie A games for Inter, showcasing better performances than he has in previous campaigns.
He was first called up to the national side in 2017, but up until 2020, he managed just five appearances, barely starting in any games. However, Argentina's Copa America trophy win this year saw the star aid his team with eight appearances and a goal.
While he's barely been at the forefront of Argentina's campaigns, things might be looking up for the star.
#1 Angel Correa | Atletico Madrid
After playing for two short seasons with San Lorenzo in Argentina, Angel Correa moved to Atletico Madrid where he quickly became a key member of Diego Simeone's first team. Since 2015 when he made his debut for the side, the star has helped Colchoneros pick up two European trophies and a La Liga title.
However, Correa hasn't built a strong presence with the Argentina national team. Although he was first called up in 2015, the star has only appeared 17 times for his country. Notably, he has played five games for Argentina this year, more than he has played in any given year in the past.
Messi's presence in the national side has hardly given Correa any time to shine. But if he continues to get more chances like he did this year, he could succeed for Argentina.
