Messi's family hit back at 'ignorant' Maradona

Not many people have the standing to criticise Lionel Messi and be taken seriously, but Diego Maradona certainly does.

The 1986 World Cup winner slammed Messi in an interview with 'Fox Sports Mexico', saying "it's pointless to make a leader out of a man who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a match".

In the wake of typically devisive comments from Maradona, Lionel Messi's cousin, a footballer in Paraguay's second division, has hit back at the former Napoli player.

"It's ignorant to discredit Leo. It's sad to see how someone who boasts of being a leader can talk so badly about a player who's currently the best we've got and will probably be so for a long time yet." Rubio Nu said.

"And he's done it at a time when he should be helping to rebuild if he loves the national side as he says he does."