Lionel Messi isn't shy about telling his team-mates when he wants the ball, according to Sergio Aguero.
The former Manchester City star spent over a decade alongside Messi with Argentina. For the majority of his career the PSG star has been his country's main man with their attacking game often going through him. But the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner is not necessarily renowned for his big personality.
Despite donning the captain's armband Messi is not a loud or vocal leader, instead choosing to demonstrate via his actions. That said, Aguero has revealed that the 35-year-old will come to his team-mates with little pieces of information - one being when he wants to be given the ball.
Aguero told ESPN : "Messi doesn't speak a lot, just the essentials. He is not talking throughout the whole game, but he comes close to you, more or less within a distance where you can hear him, and he tells you: 'When you get [the ball] be quicker' or 'If you see me, give me the ball ...' He keeps telling you how to find him. If he's annoyed, he doesn't speak."
Messi is on the cusp of winning a first World Cup of his career with a final to come against France on Sunday. The Argentine has previously come up short on the biggest stage, losing to Germany eights years ago in Brazil, but has a shot at redemption in Qatar.
Last summer he won the first international trophy of his career as Argentina won the Copa America for the first time since 1993. Messi has been among the standout players of the tournament in Qatar with his team-mates accommodating the ageing PSG star, who is largely freed from defensive duties.
The Barcelona great produced a virtuoso performance in the semi-finals to lead Argentina to a 3-0 win over Croatia. Messi scored from the spot but it was his assist for Julian Alvarez's second that had onlookers purring after he turned Joško Gvardiol inside out.
Aguero hailed the thought process of Messi's brilliance with the forward cleverly utilising his skill set. "He stopped because he knows he is not as fast as he used to be in longer distances, but he can still make a difference in shorter distances," said the former City star. "Had he continued, the defender would have blocked him and the play would have been over. He always does that, he is impeccable. He looks like he is 25 years old."
Messi has confirmed that the final on Sunday will be his last game at a World Cup having first appeared as the finals back in 2006. France themselves have half an eye on history as they look to become the first country to defend their crown since Brazil in 1962.
