Veron: Messi a natural leader

Estudiantes midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has backed Lionel Messi to become an excellent captain for the Argentina national team.

Veron, 36, was speaking on FoxSports shortly before Argentina’s friendly clash with Switzerland on Wednesday.

Messi, handed the captaincy by coach Alejandro Sabella in August last year, netted his first international hat-trick during the encounter, as his side ran out 3-1 winners in Bern.

And according to Veron, there is no doubt his former team-mate is the right choice as on-field leader.

“I do not guide myself by interviews and declarations to the press, I do it by the attitude I see on the pitch,” Veron said.

“Messi is a born leader and the responsibility does not weigh him down.”

Sabella, who coached Veron at Estudiantes, has left the door open for the former Manchester United and Lazio man to make a return to the national set-up.

But Veron has dismissed the idea he would be pulling on the Argentina shirt again.

He said: “What goals could I possibly have with the national team? Playing one more game for my statistics?”