Diego Maradona believes Lionel Messi has nothing to prove to Argentina fans ahead of the World Cup this month.

Messi has failed to match his glittering record of club success at the international level, having yet to win a trophy with Argentina. La Albiceleste have not won the World Cup since Maradona led them to the trophy in 1986.

However, the older Argentina legend says his younger counterpart should not play with the burden of having to win in order to cement his legacy.

“I would advise Messi to keep playing, to enjoy the game,” Maradona told Omnisport.

“He has to forget about the critics, if he can win the World Cup or not.

“He doesn’t have to demonstrate anything. He has to enjoy the game on the field.

“I don’t know [coach Jorge] Sampaoli, I don’t know how he plays. But, I know a lot of the players and I know they will give everything.

“And I think they have a good opportunity to win. But I don’t choose [Argentina] as a favourite because the favourite one never wins.”