Spain coach Luis Enrique mentioned earlier this week it might be “unfair” if Argentina nice Lionel Messi have been by no means to win the World Cup. However the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is working out of time and alternatives. Alongside Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, the Qatar extravaganza will probably be the fifth and final World Cup for one of many two excellent gamers of their technology — believed by many to be the 2 biggest footballers of all time. In contrast to earlier contenders for the title of biggest of all time — Brazil’s Pele and Diego Maradona of Argentina — at the very least one, and perhaps each, won’t ever raise soccer’s biggest prize.
But within the case of Messi, this could be his greatest likelihood but to win that elusive prize. He minimize a distraught determine in 2014 after Argentina succumbed 1-0 to Germany within the last in Brazil, even briefly asserting his worldwide retirement in 2016.
He modified his thoughts and final yr led Argentina to their first main title in 28 years, defeating hosts Brazil within the Copa America last by the identical scoreline and in the identical Maracana stadium the place they’d floundered seven years earlier.
‘He is a legend’
Argentina head into this match on the again of a 36-match unbeaten run as one of many clear favourites. Their group doesn’t seem, on paper at the very least, probably the most taxing. They start in opposition to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, adopted by clashes with Mexico and Poland.
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“Argentina are one of many favourites for the entire World Cup,” mentioned Poland ahead Robert Lewandowski earlier this week. “They haven’t misplaced for 30-odd video games, they’re very harmful opponents for everybody.”
As the brand new darling of the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Lewandowski has been ready this season to see first hand the legacy left behind by Messi in Catalonia. “He’s a Barcelona legend. You see it far and wide being on the membership,” the Pole mentioned.
“He’s Argentina’s chief, one of many high gamers. We all know who we’ll play in opposition to, it is an enormous problem.”
Lewnadowski will probably be among the many final gamers ever to play a World Cup match in opposition to Messi, together with the unfancied however assured Saudis. Midfielder Abdulellah Al-Malki insists he won’t be overawed by the event.
“He is a legend and it is a dream for any participant to play in opposition to him, however we characterize Saudi Arabia and we concern no-one,” he mentioned. Messi’s predecessor as Argentina icon, the late Maradona secured his footballing immortality by inspiring the nation to their second world title in 1986. Messi would desperately love so as to add World Cup glory to all his different accolades that embrace 4 Champions League crowns and 10 La Liga titles.
And he is not alone. “If Spain do not win the World Cup, I would really like Argentina to win it due to Messi,” Enrique, who coached Messi at Barcelona for 3 years, mentioned on Twitch earlier this week. “It could be unfair for Messi to retire with out successful a World Cup.”
There’s a feeling that regardless of the current retirements of attacking skills equivalent to Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, Argentina have a greater steadiness within the squad than in earlier years. In addition to Messi, fellow veteran Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez present thrust and trickery in assault.
There’s an industrious midfield together with Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes and Alexis Mac Alister, and combative defenders within the mould of Cristian Romero and Manchester United revelation Lisandro Martinez, with the protected arms of Emiliano Martinez guarding the online.
It truly is now or by no means for Messi however there’s a rising feeling in Argentina that this would be the worldwide swansong a nation and a legend have lengthy dreamt of.
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