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Is Lionel Messi simply too good at soccer? Carlos Tevez believes that Messi’s ability makes him difficult to partner with, because his skill level is so much greater than that of his teammates.
Speaking with reporters, Tevez said: “In general, it is easy to play with Messi. But sometimes it can be very difficult, because we are all playing football, whereas he is playing an entirely different sport. Everything just comes so natural to him.”
Tevez has played with Messi at multiple Copa Americas (2007, 2011, 2015) and World Cups (2006, 2010), but each has ended in disappointment for the Argentinean side. The duo infamously combined to score a dubious goal against Mexico at the 2010 World Cup.
While the 32-year-old Tevez has returned to Argentina to play for club side Boca Juniors, he’s eyeing one last chance at silverware with the national team alongside Messi.
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“I think that I have a 50 percent chance of making the Argentina squad for the Copa,” said Tevez. “I have to be better than just good if I want to make the squad because of all the fantastic champions Argentina have. I have to give 100 percent if I want to wear the Argentina jersey again.”
Tevez has scored 13 goals in 76 appearances for Argentina. While Messi has been criticized for his international strike rate, one that is roughly half of what he manages with Barcelona, Tevez hasn’t managed a goal for Argentina since 2011. He scored the winning penalty in their quarterfinal shoot-out defeat of Colombia at the 2015 Copa America, but Tevez has been unable to consistently add to his meager Argentina tally, scoring only once in his last 16 games.
With Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala all looking to lead the line this summer, Tevez faces stiff competition.
However, his form for Boca in 2015 merited him a recall to the national side. He’s since scored three goals and added two assists in eight appearances in the early stages of the 2016 Argentine Primera División. For fans of Argentina in the United States, the sight of Carlos Tevez at the 2016 Copa America Centenario would certainly be a welcome one.
(H/T: Daily Mail)
