'Dinner with the band:' Mauro Icardi and Co enjoy a meal in Saudi Arabia as Argentina prepare to face Brazil
- Mauro Icardi shared a photo of himself and his Argentina team-mates in Riyadh
- Squad were enjoying a meal together in between games against Iraq and Brazil
- Vibe seemed relaxed as players smiled for the camera while sat at a long table
Argentina appear to be enjoying their trip to Saudi Arabia if Mauro Icardi's latest Instagram update is anything to go by.
Icardi shared a photo of himself dining with his international team-mates in Riyadh at the weekend as they prepare to face Brazil at King Abdullah Sports City on Tuesday.
The vibe seemed relaxed as the squad, dressed in training clothes, smiled for the camera while sat at a long table outdoors.
Mauro Icardi (left) shared a photo of himself and his Argentina team-mates dining in Riyadh
Their visit to Saudi Arabia began well on Thursday when they beat Iraq 4-0 courtesy of goals from Lautaro Martinez, Roberto Pereyra, German Pezzella and Franco Cervi.
Lionel Messi has not travelled with the squad after making himself unavailable for selection until further notice.
Messi's family have hit back at Diego Maradona after he claimed the Barcelona forward played differently when he was representing his club and said it was a waste of time trying to turn him into a leader 'because he goes to the toilet 20 times before a match.'
Maradona, who is idolised in Argentina because of his performances for his nation, also insisted he would not call the 31-year-old up for international duty if he was made manager of the national team again.
Argentina began their trip to Saudi Arabia in style on Thursday with a 4-0 win over Iraq
His astonishing attack was made during an interview on Fox Sports. 'Messi's a great player, but he's not a leader,' Maradona said.
'Before talking to the coach and players, he'll play on the PlayStation. Then, on the pitch, he wants to be the leader. He's the best along with Cristiano Ronaldo but for me, it's pointless to make a leader out of a man who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a match.’
Messi's cousin Maxi Biancucchi branded Maradona, who has battled weight problems as well as addictions to drugs and alcohol, 'ignorant' over his comments.
The 34 year-old, a professional footballer with second division Paraguayan side Rubio Nu, raged: 'It's ignorant to discredit Leo.
'It's sad to see how someone who boasts of being a leader can talk so badly about a player who's currently the best we've got and will probably be so for a long time yet.
'And he's done it at a time when he should be helping to rebuild if he loves the national side as he says he does.'
Maradona's toilet reference was thought to be a dig at Messi's nerves before games that have seen him vomit in some important matches.
The family of Lionel Messi (left) have called Diego Maradona 'ignorant' after recent comments
Most watched Sport videos
- Heartwarming moment NY Red Bulls players give their coats to mascots
- YouTuber buys Marcus Rashford's wrecked £700k Rolls-Royce
- Travis and Jason Kelce CLASH over who would win a drinking contest
- England manager Sarina Wiegman slams coach-player relationships
- Gareth Southgate comments on design change of new England shirt
- Fake clip claiming to show Swift and Kelce falling off a swing
- New York Jets star Sauce Gardner claims Jewish people 'run the world'
- Kate Abdo's partner broken speaks on Carragher's 'loyalty' joke
- Man United want Gary O'Neil to join their coaching staff
- A brawl erupts between Sydney Roosters and Rabbitohs fans
- David Seaman on Southgate, England & EURO 2024
- Kelce dances to Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood' on the golf course