World Cup winner Diego Maradona has claimed that Lionel Messi has not been given enough support from his Argentina teammates at this summer's tournament.

Messi has been named man of the match in each of Argentina's four games on their way to the quarter-finals, but Maradona believes that the Barcelona forward is becoming frustrated at having to do too much work.

"The kid is very lonely out on the pitch," the former Argentina head coach told reporters. "I have a very strong feeling about what is happening and I can only describe it as bitterness, rage, anger.

"The team is only playing at 40% of its potential. It has no change of pace, no movement up front. Unless that alters, we will go out.

"If we don't wake up, we're in trouble, and the danger is that, if the kid doesn't get the help he needs, he will end up being blamed for a catastrophe."

Argentina take on Belgium in Brasilia on Saturday.