(CNN) -- Despite current world player of year Lionel Messi's recent declaration that he wants to finish his career in his native Argentina, there are very real concerns about the current well-being of football in the soccer-mad South American nation.





Messi may be the best player on the planet, but problems both on and off the pitch -- including Argentina's humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Germany in the 2010 World Cup finals -- have put immense pressure on the national team to perform well in the Copa America tournament they currently host.





There is no doubt that the tournament is being staged on the back of a traumatic few months for Argentine football.





Serious crowd disorder, chronic financial problems, the continued drain of top talent to rich European clubs and the shock relegation of the mighty River Plate have all combined to leave many fans with furrowed brows.





Add to this the apparent strength of traditional rivals Brazil, who have just won the Copa Libertadores -- the biggest club prize in South American football -- with Santos, and whose teams are managing to keep hold of their better players due to an improved national economy, and it is clear to see why many are questioning the health of the sport.





River Plate's fate is a warning to Latin American giants





So far, the omens are not looking good. A late goal from Sergio Aguero rescued a point for Argentina in their opening group match against Bolivia.





And things got even worse for the hosts in their second group game when they were booed off after a dreadful 0-0 draw against Colombia. Next Monday's final match against Costa Rica is now a must-win affair, with the very real possibility that Argentina might crash out of the tournament at the first hurdle.





CNN's Buenos Aires correspondent Brian Byrnes summed up the mood that pervades many of the passionate followers of football in the nation.





"Argentina have some of the best players in the world and for some reason the team is not producing what it is capable of," said Byrnes.





"World-class players like Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid) and Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid) cannot even get in the side, while other nations would be proud to have players like that in their team, let alone on the bench.





"You only had to look at Lionel Messi's face after Wednesday's match. The team cannot get the best out of the world's top player and things are so bad that radio phone-ins and web sites are calling for the return of (former national coach) Diego Maradona, who was castigated after last year's World Cup failure."





Argentine football legend Osvaldo Ardiles also conceded that the national team have got problems at the moment.





Ardiles, a key member of the Argentina side that won the World Cup for the first time on home soil in 1978, told CNN: "We have drawn our first two games in the tournament and, to be honest, we were so bad that they could easily have been two defeats.





Argentina booed off after goalless draw





"Argentina are favorites for this tournament, and for them to miss out on reaching the knockout rounds would be unthinkable -- but Brazil also had a bad start (0-0 against Venezuela) so I don't agree that it is all doom and gloom yet.





"I also don't think Brazilian football is better than us at the moment. Both countries went out in the same stage of the World Cup finals, and although Santos won the Copa Libertadores, Argentina won it with Estudiantes in 2009 and Boca Juniors in 2007."





Ardiles continued: "I do believe the future of Brazilian football is in a better state than ours. The Brazilian economy is strong and they are able to bring back some of their better players from Europe. I think that will really have an effect on the national team in four or five years time."





The tournament comes just a week after the dramatic demise of River Plate.





The most famous football club in Argentina, and arguably the whole of the continent,
What is the tournament called? Who is hosting the Copa America? Who needs to perform well in front of their fans?
Copa America Germany the national team
question: What is the tournament called?, answer: Copa America | question: Who is hosting the Copa America?, answer: Germany | question: Who needs to perform well in front of their fans?, answer: the national team