Messi will be aiming to cement his legacy as a World Cup winner.
Lionel Messi admits England are among the favourites to win the 2022 World Cup, and has remained coy about Argentina’s chances in Qatar.
The 35-year-old waited for a long to lift an international trophy and in 2021, he finally achieved this by winning Copa America Cup. The legendary star would hope for the World Cup trophy in his last World Cup.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will be competing at his fifth World Cup tournament this year and he will be aiming to cement his legacy as the greatest player to have graced the beautiful game by adding his first and Argentina’s third world title to his cabinet.
The PSG forward believes that there are three other countries who “are a little above the rest” in the running for the 2022 crown.
Speaking in an interview with South American Federation CONMEBOL, Messi said: “Whenever we talk about candidates, we always talk about the same teams. If I have to put some above others I think Brazil, France and England are a little bit above the rest.
“But the World Cup is so difficult and so complicated that anything can happen. We are very excited. We have a very nice group that is very eager, but we think about going little by little.
“We hope to start the World Cup in the best way to face everything that comes after. The more you play and the more time you spend on the pitch, the more you get to know each other.”
Argentina’s first World Cup trophy came in 1978 and Diego Maradona inspired La Albiceleste to their second world title in 1986.
Argentina are having an impressive 35-game unbeaten run, a feat just two behind the all-time record set by Italy between 2018 and 2021. Brazil were the last nation to beat Argentina in July 2019.
Meanwhile, England reached the World Cup semi-finals in Russia four years ago and they were also the runner-ups in Euro 2020.
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