Last night Messi really off form. Si bei jailat.
:o

Yalor.......really our of form
Also there were a few opposing players near him whenever he ventured nside their half.

Actually I do notice that the Messi on international duties is different from Messi at Barcelona. On the international front, he tends to be somewhat withdrawn at times and only shows glimpses of what he can do with those magical feet.
Anyway he should know very well that he is going to be a marked man throughout the tournament

Overheard Coffeeshop talk. “I knew he would miss, world best player cannot take pressure.”

Remember one of his countran said Messi needs players around him to buck up which is very true.
At intl, he was waiting for someone to make a run into space so he can make the decisive pass or helped him as a decoy to draw away defender creating the space that allows him to shoot but no one can help him leading him to hold onto the ball too long or faces opposing players clamping down on him.
At Barca, it is titoally different as the club will sign on one of the best players in the position and one that fits into their style of plays. Hence Messi has lesser pressure and can perform better.

Many compares Messi with Maradona but I think is totally of a different class.
The latter at Club and intl level, the players around him were not so spectacular but a Maradona shown his class by dribbling the ball, making the decisive pass or create chances for his team mates as well as can score himself.