Lionel Messi said that after Juan Roman Riquelme had resigned to the Argentine soccer national team, he does not feel he is the "leader" of the team, local press said on Monday. Messi said that he does not feel pressure when wearing No. 10 in this t-shirt, which has been the number used by the best players like Maradona and Riquelme and he said that "the number never can be more important than the way to represent the t-shirt (the team)."
"The important thing is to run and play thinking in the t-shirt more than in the number. I understand the game of the media, because it happens the same in Barcelona when Ronaldinho left and I was given the (t-shirt) 10," Messi said as quoted on Monday by local daily "La Nacion".
Argentina's Lionel Messi looks at his shot during a World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match against Venezuela in Buenos Aires March 28, 2009
When asked if with Riquelme's exit he was the new leader of the team, Messi said that "I do not consider it like that. You (reporters) talk more about it than me."
"Leaders are Masche (Javier Mascherano), la Bruja (Juan Sebastian Veron) el Gringo (Gabriel Heinze)," Messi said.
Messi will play on Wednesday with the national team in a match against Bolivia in La Paz for the qualifiers for the World Cup South Africa 2010.