BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Coach of the Argentine national soccer team Sergio Batista said that Argentina "has to win a World Cup," local media said on Sunday.

According to an interview of the sports daily "Ole" published on Sunday, Batista said that to win the America Cup "is not the priority," but "to win the world Cup."

"Of course it is important to win the America Cup, but it is not the priority. Argentina has to win a World Cup, not an America Cup. This competition is in a project process that we have for Brazil 2014," he said.

Batista also said that Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi " since time ago is the best player of the world, but he has to be well treated."

Batista said that Messi "should not be crushed and burdened with pressure, because sometimes Argentina demands Messi to make the team the world champion, to be better, to be the captain. He has to be left alone and make a squad based on him."

"Messi has not mysteries, he is a simple guy and he does not have any privileged," added he.