Lionel Messi and Argentina have what it takes to be crowned World Champions in Qatar
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Lionel Messi and Argentina lifting the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions
June 29th, 1986, was the last time football fans saw Argentina lift the prestigious World Cup. Under the leadership of the flamboyant Diego Maradona, the men in blue and white beat a very tough West German side 3-2. Leading to the competition, many issues plagued the Argentinian team. But by showing character, the squad prevailed through it all. The glory, pain, and sacrifice could all be seen in the eyes of an emotional Maradona who held the prestigious trophy.
However, since the victory in ’86, Argentina has suffered through a dry patch in World Cup competition. Despite having many talented players rising through its ranks, La Selección has not been able to lift the cup. Since ’86, Argentina played in two World Cup finals and lost them both. The inability to win the prestigious tournament has led to many questions among fans and critics. Even though Argentina replaced Maradona with their talisman Lionel Messi, the side is still yet to win the World Cup. But, this 36-year wait could end in Qatar.
Going into the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Argentina has one of the strongest sides in the 29-day long tournament. Along with having the right players, the men in Blue and White also have a dynamic manager in Lionel Scaloni. Since taking over as coach, Scaloni has provided the South American team with the desired results. The 44-year-old manager ended Argentina’s 28-year wait for an international trophy by winning the Copa America in 2021. Under his leadership, the country also won the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions against Italy.
Even going into the tournament in Qatar, Scaloni’s side has been undefeated in the last 35-games they played. While Scaloni deserves a lot of credit for these performances, Argentinian players have also given it their all. By balancing a mixture of youth and experience, Argentina has dominated the pitch in recent times. Despite having an extremely strong defense and midfield, the focal point of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup campaign will be its front three.
Predicted Starting 11 for Argentina: Martinez(GK); Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico; Paredes, De Paul, Rodriguez; Di Maria, Messi (C), Martinez.
The dynamic trio of Angel Di Maria, Lauturo Martinez, and Lionel Messi will lead the attack for Argentina. While Martinez will get the goals, Messi and Di Maria will look to serve the striker with crisp passes. With the current 22-23 season in progress, the latter has marked a decent start to his career with Juventus. In 10 appearances for the Italian club, Di Maria has scored 1 goal and provided four assists. Martinez, on the other hand, is enjoying an average season with Inter Milan by scoring eight goals and dishing out six assists in 21 appearances.
Related: Argentina must invoke the legacy of Diego Maradona to win the FIFA World Cup
Argentina will depend on Lionel Messi’s heroics to win the World Cup in Qatar
The year 2021 was tragic for FC Barcelona fans. On August 8th of that year, Lionel Messi, who had been associated with the club for 20 years, bid goodbye to his Spanish home. After a lot of transfer speculation, the 35-year-old Argentinian joined French side Paris Saint Germain on a free transfer. It was reported that Messi’s contract with the French outfit was worth £94m over three years.
Since his arrival in France, many were excited to see how Messi would perform in a different league. While many expected him to play like his former self, the 7-time Balon d’Or winner had a difficult start to his career with PSG. In his first season, Messi ended the campaign with 11 goals and 15 assists in 34 appearances for the French Club. Fans and critics around the world did not find his performance satisfactory.
However, in the ongoing 22-23 season, Messi has once again reminded fans why he is one of the finest players our generation has seen. In 19 appearances for PSG so far, the 35-year-old has scored 12 goals and provided 14 brilliant assists. His ability to create opportunities for those around him will be crucial for Argentina in their bid to win the World Cup in Qatar.
Along with Messi’s skills on the field, Argentina will also rely on the talented footballer’s leadership. Often, the football skills of the Argentinian surpass his leadership qualities. But, fans had a display of Messi’s leadership in the 2021 Copa America. Before the finals, Messi gave his team a speech that boosted the morale of every Argentine player. When the video went viral later, many were surprised to see this side of the player. But those who have played and continue to play with him always knew of Messi’s quality. His pep talk before the game proved to be valuable as Angel Di Maria netted a goal to crown Argentina Copa America champions.
While Lionel Messi ended his career-long wait for an international trophy by winning the Copa America in 2021, the player will now look to bid a goodbye to the World Cup by winning the tournament. Previously during an interview, Messi confirmed that the tournament in Qatar would be his last opportunity to win the tournament. He said, “There’s some anxiety and nerves at the same time. It is the last one.” [H/T ESPN]
Also Read: FIFA 23 Simulator Predicts Argentina to Win Qatar World Cup 2022
A lot of young players in the Argentinian squad look up to Lionel Messi. With the tournament in Qatar being the 7-time Balon d’Or winner’s last World Cup, every teammate of Messi will work hard to give their captain the send-off he deserves. Even though Lionel Messi has cemented his legacy in world football by winning every trophy he competed for at the club level, it will be interesting to see if he and Argentina can win the Qatar World Cup, in what would be Lionel Messi’s last dance.
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