Messi: We have to think about the Saudi match first

Lionel Messi

Argentine star Lionel Messi

called on his countrymen to be prudent about Albiceleste's chances of winning the World Cup in football, during an interview with an Argentine newspaper on Saturday, about a week before the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The Argentine team, which won the “Copa America” title in its last version, is one of the candidates for the coronation in Qatar, but the 35-year-old captain of the “Tango” team told the sports newspaper “Ole”: “We will fight for it (the title), but we will not be automatic champions.” Argentines believe.

And the French Paris Saint-Germain player confirmed that “it is a mistake in the first place to think about the round of 16, you should think about the first match (against Saudi Arabia). It is necessary to start with the right step and win the three matches (in the group stage).”

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner will lead a 26-player squad that includes Angel Di Maria and Paulo Dybala, who have returned after recovering from injury.

Messi said: "We will go through difficult times, but this group is prepared for the worst. It was formed when we lost the Copa America semi-finals in 2019 to Brazil. From there, I produced what I achieved,” referring to Argentina’s victory in the 2021 Copa America final and winning the fifteenth title in its history.

Argentina, twice winner of the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, begins its campaign in the current version of the Group C competition against Saudi Arabia on November 22, before facing Mexico and Poland on the 26 and 29 of the same month.