Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino has publicly defended Lionel Messi, asking reporters to 'leave him alone for a few days'.

The Argentine forward has come under increasing scrutiny in the last few months over his injuries and performances, but his fellow countryman at the Blaugrana stuck up for him at a recent press conference.

"We can't have a news headline for Messi every day. Sometimes I feel like asking you all to not write about him for a couple of days. Hey, why don't we leave Messi alone for a couple of days? I would prefer to let him be calm and relaxed and to continue enjoying seeing the best player in the world," Martino told reporters.

The 26-year-old lost out to Cristiano Ronaldo for the latest Ballon D'Or.