Argentina legend Diego Maradona has come to the rescue of his countryman Lionel Messi‘s defence after the forward missed a penalty in the group stage game against Iceland.

The Barcelona superstar had a chance to put his team into the lead and score what could have been the decisive goal, taking Argentina to a 2-1 win.

However, Messi’s penalty was saved by Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson and the game ended with a 1-1 draw.

Maradona believes even the best players can miss a penalty – admitting that even he himself had failed to convert some during his time.

“I missed five penalties in a row and I was still Diego Armando Maradona,” he told Telesur.

“The game and the two points lost by the team are not down to his penalty.

“He showed his face and gave everything he had to give. The ‘kid’ did his duty.

“Seeing him on the field, he was pretty pissed off. Just like I would have been. It was all him, he always had to shrug two players off and when he did, there was no pass open.”

The 1986 World Cup winner instead put the onus of the draw on coach Jorge Sampaoli and believes his tactics weren’t up to the mark.

Meanwhile, Argentina will face Croatia in their next game on June 21.