Lionel Messi 'Playing Badly Now, Not The Person We've Known,' Legendary Striker Says

Considered as one of the greatest strikers of all-time, Dutch legend Marco van Basten is not pleased with how Lionel Messi has been performing this season.

FC Barcelona had a terrible opening game against Atletico Madrid on Saturday after the International Break. As expected, Messi has become the subject of discussions following the devastating loss.

Speaking on Ziggo Sport via Voetbalzone, Van Basten looked back at Barca’s poor showing, roasting the Argentine for failing to make an impact despite playing the entire game.

“He's [Messi] just playing badly now,” he said. “Messi and Antoine Griezmann play like a bunch of cake bakers.”

Van Basten also lashed out on the Barca team captain’s rumored rift with Antoine Griezmann. As per the 56-year-old, the Messi playing for Camp Nou-based club right now isn’t the same player who has dominated the game for years.

“He will undoubtedly be bothered by the fact that there is no audience,” the four-time Serie A titlist claimed of Messi. “He is not happy with the situation in and around Barcelona. And then also that hassle with Griezmann. It's an accumulation. We don't see the person we've known."

After a tumultuous summer with Barca, Messi is still bombarded with criticisms over his working relationship with Griezmann. Some believe that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner has contributed to the Frenchman’s struggles on the pitch.

Messi finally reached boiling point and recently exclaimed, "the truth is that I'm a little tired of always being the problem for everything at the club."

Griezmann, on the other hand, downplayed the rumored fractious relationship with Messi. It can be recalled that his former agent, Eric Olhats, previously claimed that playing with his ex-client doesn't sit well with football mega-star.

In response, the 29-year-old insists that Olhats’ statement doesn’t ring a bell and Messi is even pleased to have him as his teammate.

"I said during my presentation that I didn't want to talk other than on the pitch, because I'm like that, I talk best with the ball in my feet, but now it's time to put things in their place," Griezmann recently told Movistar.

“Eric [Olhats] offers an opinion but that can do a lot of damage and create doubts about my relationship with Leo [Messi],” he added. “Leo knows I have a lot of respect for him. I learn from him. Since we became team-mates he was determined to go all out for each other."