It’s not a stain if Messi failed to qualify for World Cup – Tabarez

Uruguay head coach, Oscar Tabarez said Barcelona star, Lionel Messi needs support if Argentina must qualify for a 12th successive World Cup.

Tabarez does not believe failure to qualify for the World Cup would leave a stain on Messi’s illustrious career.

The Uruguay boss insisted the five-time Ballon d’Or winner cannot do it all for Argentina.

The Albiceleste were runners-up at the 2014 World Cup but are in real danger of missing out on next year’s showpiece tournament in Russia.

A scoreless draw at home to Peru left Argentina sixth in the CONMEBOL standings and adrift of the inter-confederation qualifying position with one qualifier remaining against Ecuador on Tuesday.

“I don’t see it as a stain and it shouldn’t be like that,” Tabarez said when asked if missing out on the World Cup would be a stain on Messi’s career.

He said, “There are a lot of great players in football’s history that weren’t world champions and they’re not stained by that, at least for me.

According to him, “Besides that, Messi is still playing, you can’t tell what will happen.

“Argentina are having problems to qualify but if they do, they’ll be favourites to win the World Cup.

“He’s a huge player but he can’t do it all, this is a team sport.”