Fans questioned Lionel Messi's commitment to the Argentina national football team after the FC Barcelona star decided not to play in a friendly against Germany on Thursday.

But in a post on his Facebook account, Messi, the Golden Ball winner during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, congratulated his teammates for winning against Germany in their first game under new coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino.

"Congratulations to all my colleagues in the Argentine Football Federation -- Argentine team who participated yesterday in the win over Germany for the first match in this new stage of direction under Tata," Messi wrote on Thursday. "I am sorry I could not be with you this time. This team still has a lot to give and we are going to achieve great things in the future."

Javier Mascherano also came into Messi's defense, saying that Argentine fans must show more respect to the 27-year-old star forward, who started playing for the national team since he was just 18 years old in August 2005.

"We Argentines must learn to look after our idols," Mascherano said via ESPN FC. "Players like Messi come along every 50 years. If we do not know how to enjoy it, that is a pity. Messi was always the first to come with the national team and it will stay like that."

Mascherano added that he talked to Messi before the match and the soccer star informed him about his decision to miss the friendly due to an adductor muscle injury.

"I spoke with Leo. He did not come as he has a small injury," Mascherano said. "Maybe if the game was in three or four days he would have played it. A friendly was not worth taking a risk for. He is very committed, we cannot apologize for something which has not happened."

Without Messi, Argentina managed to avenge their 1-0 loss in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final with an impressive 4-2 win against Germany at the Esprit Arena.

Angel Di Maria had an outstanding performance as he assisted goals or Sergio Aguero, Erik Lamela and Fede Fernandez before scoring his own goal to seal the win.

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