A former international star has made the shocking declaration that he wishes Argentina legend Diego Maradona was as "protected" as Lionel Messi is.
La Albiceleste are currently top of the CONMEBOL 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying table as they look to secure their place at the tournament set to be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Read: 'African football is more competitive than European football'
The 2024 Copa America winners will take on Chile on Friday, before facing Colombia, the side they beat in the final of the most recent continental competition, next Tuesday.
Argentina will, however, be heading into those encounters without talisman Messi, who picked up an ankle injury in the Copa America final and was forced to watch his national teammates get over the finish line from the sidelines.
Ex-Chile star Miguel Angel Neira, though, believes the former Barcelona star not starting is the "worst thing" that could happen to La Roja.
"They are doing us a favour by not having Messi play," he said, per Goal.
"If Messi no longer plays, the worst thing that can happen to us is that he is not a starter.
"Now someone else is going to play, and anyone is better than Messi. If he was, he is no longer.
"We saw it in the Copa America, in the qualifiers. He no longer has anything to do with the Argentine national team."
Neira also went on to insinuate that the ex-FC Barcelona captain has been "protected" during his career thus far.
Read: AFCON Quali: Uganda boss ready to take fight to Bafana