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'Football needs Messi to lift the World Cup' - Barca star already great even if he fails in Russia, says Crespo

The mercurial forward continues to face suggestions that global success with Argentina is needed to be the greatest, but a fellow countryman disagrees

Football needs a Lionel Messi World Cup win more than the Barcelona and Argentina requires global glory, claims Hernan Crespo.

The mercurial forward is already assured of a standing among the all-time greats, but his claims to the title of ‘greatest ever’ continue to be questioned due to a lack of international success.

With the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona having inspired Brazil and Argentina to World Cup triumphs in the past, it has been suggested that Messi must do likewise in order to enjoy similar status.