Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring against Paraguay during a 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match in Cordoba, Argentina, Friday, Sept. 7, 2012.
Natacha Pisarenko, Associated Press
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Lionel Messi failed to score for Argentina in the 2010 World Cup, and he was just as ineffective in last year's continental championship — the Copa America — where he produced another zero.
The Barcelona star faced unrelenting criticism, questions about his patriotism — he has grown up mostly in Spain — and suggestions he would never produce like Maradona.
Then suddenly, Messi began to deliver when Argentina hired Alejandro Sabella as the new national team coach just over a year ago. And he hasn't stopped.
Messi has nine goals in Argentina's last five games, and 11 since Sabella took over for Sergio Batista, who moved in after Diego Maradona was fired.
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