Barcelona captain has lifted the lid on his frustrations of playing with the Argentina national side, and the effect it has had on his family life.
Messi, who collected his 130th cap in the friendly defeat to Venezuela last week, has been the subject criticism from within sections of the Argentinian media for years, and he came under fire again this week.
The 31 year-old withdrew from the squad to face Morocco, four days the Venezuela game, after picking up an injury – and that has been seized upon to criticise Messi.
"I am used to them making up stories about me, he told Radio 94.7
"There are a lot of lies that are told and it makes me angry because some people will believe what they read.
"I have been struggling with a strain since December, but I wanted to play."
Messi's commitment to his national side is at times questioned by the domestic media, something which the Barcelona star believes is unwarranted given his performances for La Albiceleste.
"I'd love to win something with Argentina and I am going to play in all the important competitions.
"But a lot of people say that I should not have come back (after his brief international retirement in 2016) and even my son asks me why do they crucify me in Argentina."
