BUENOS AIRES, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Argentina face an uphill battle to qualify for next year's World Cup without their suspended talisman Lionel Messi, according to Albiceleste legend Diego Maradona.
Messi has served one match of a four-game international ban for abusing an assistant referee in a World Cup qualifier last month.
"With all due respect to the national team, I think that without Messi we are at risk of missing out on qualifying for the World Cup," Maradona told Radio Rivadavia.
"I would accept a playoff spot now, but Argentina are always capable of finding something extra."
Argentina are currently fifth in the South American zone World Cup qualifying standings with four matches remaining.
Only the top four teams will qualify automatically for the tournament in Russia while the fifth-ranked side will earn a playoff berth.
In Messi's absence, Argentina will play Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru. The Barcelona forward will return for the team's last qualifier against Ecuador on October 10.
Maradona, who almost single-handedly won the 1986 World Cup for Argentina, called for an end to comparisons between himself and Messi.
"I have finished my career. I enjoyed my time on the pitch. Now it's Messi's turn. There doesn't have to be any comparisons between us," the 56-year-old said.
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 3《life in the future》必修5
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 2《Healthy Eating》必修3
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 3《Computers》必修2
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 1《Friendship》必修1
2016届高考英语一轮复习专项练习 9《情态动词和虚拟语气》
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 3《a taste of English humor》必修4
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 1《women of achievement》必修4
2016届高考英语一轮复习对点题组练习 专项8《非谓语动词》
2016高三英语一轮(外研版)复习:高考专项突破 完形2
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 3《Tavel journey》必修1
2016高三英语一轮(外研版)复习:写作进行时1
2016届高考英语一轮复习专项练习 4《代词》
2016届高考英语一轮复习对点题组练习 专项5《形容词和副词》
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 3《Inventors and inventions》选修8
2016届高考英语一轮复习专项练习 2《名词》
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 2《working the land》必修4
2016高三英语一轮(外研版)复习:高考专项突破 完形1
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 1《Festivals around the world》必修3
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 1《Great Scientists》必修5
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 2《Cloning》选修8
2016高三英语一轮(外研版)复习:高考专项突破 语法2
2016届高考英语一轮复习对点题组练习 专项13《特殊句式及其他》
2016届高考英语一轮复习对点题组练习 专项3《介词和介词短语》
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 1《Living well》选修7
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 2《English around the world》必修1
2016届高考英语一轮复习专项练习 5《形容词和副词》
2016届高考英语一轮复习专项练习 3《介词和介词短语》
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 2《Poems》选修6
2016届高考英语一轮复习专项练习 7《动词的时态和语态》
山西省2016届高考英语一轮复习学案(新人教版) Uint 2《Robots》选修7