Barcelona striker Lionel Messi is on the same page with Argentine Football Association boss Claudio Tapia, who previously stated that manager Sampaoli has to recall Gonzalo Higuaín to the national team ahead of the 2018 World Cup in the wake of the national team's 4-2 loss to Nigeria in an international friendly.

Higuaín has not been summoned to the Argentinian squad in their last seven matches, including the friendly in Krasnodar, and Messi says he must be in the team, calling the Juventus striker one of the best in the world.

''He is suffering for the national team, but he must be in it," Messi told TyC Sports.

"For me he is one of the best number nines in the world. He demonstrates this every weekend at Juventus but does not play the same with Argentina

"The critics make him suffer, we have spoken about it many times.

"I believe that this period without the national team did him good. We spoke about it through messages, it was a good thing that he had this period of absence. But he must be in the squad."

Higuaín has tallied 31 goals in 69 appearances for the Argentinian national team, and has faced the Super Eagles three times, scoring one goal and providing an assist.

Igho Kingsley