According to the Argentina squad's ex-fitness trainer Fernando Signorini, the best thing that Lionel Messi could do is "go on holiday with his wife and little kid", as it will be "a miracle and nothing more" if this year's football calendar allows the player to arrive at the Brazil 2104 event match-fit.

Speaking to 'Xarxa Ràdio", Signorini said that "one has to respect the players, and the authorities should do something about it", as the current football calendar is totally centred around profit and pays no regard for the "raw material" – the players themselves.

"I would advise the world footballing authorities to take the human aspect more into consideration, and not to focus so much on the financial aspects. These demanding football calendars show a lack of respect towards the players and public, who want to see a good show. The FIFA has to change things, there cannot be such a short space of time between the end of the league and the World Cup."

"Leo will want to play to the very end, it's the world footballing leaders that have to make the changes. Or maybe the players should pull up and say, 'ok, enough is enough, we can't play under these conditions'", Signorini reflected.

"We should enjoy Messi without putting this marvellous human football machine in jeopardy", the trainer advised, who also said that the football calendar was "perverse", while slamming the football authorities for "looking more at the business than the best conditions possible for the player."