Argentina legend Diego Maradona on Thursday criticized compatriot Lionel Messi, suggesting the Barcelona star's retirement from international soccer and subsequent change of heart was "staged".

"I don't know whether this was staged to make us understand that he'd lost three finals, but we never lost by big margins," Maradona said during a radio interview in Buenos Aires.

Messi announced his retirement from international soccer after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile on penalties in June, with the Barcelona forward crucially misfiring in the shootout.