Undoubtedly the hottest topic in the world of football is the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and as the biggest global sporting event draws closer, everyone has a number of national teams they are rooting for.
Argentina will head into Qatar as one of the favorites to lift the famous golden trophy. They will certainly be one of the most supported having won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986 as well as providing many legends and iconic moments in the history of the competition.
Par for the course, Lionel Messi will retain the sympathy of millions of sports fans all over the world who will add to Argentina’s typically strong partisan support.
We have evaluated several Argentina World Cup bets to analyze how good Messi will be at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The PSG ace has announced the winter World Cup will be the fifth and final one of his storied career as he seeks his first World Cup title. Millions are praying he bows out with the trophy in his hands, and the Albiceleste are looking good for glory.
Argentina, who are currently third in the World ranking, beat Jamaica 3-0 last time out as Messi scored twice off the bench to continue their 35-game unbeaten run over three years. They will arrive at the World Cup high on confidence after winning the 2021 Copa America final against hosts Brazil.
Messi believes that landmark victory was a turning point for the team after several near misses. The 35-year-old was in fact directly involved in nine of the 12 goals scored by Argentina, scoring four and assisting five on their way to glory.
Perhaps Qatar 2022 has come at the perfect moment for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who had to make do with the Golden Ball award after losing to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.
With their last group stage exit coming 20 years ago in Korea/Japan, they will be looking to take that final step. Messi himself is cautious of the amount of pressure on the team.
“There’s some anxiety and nerves at the same time. It is the last one,” Messi said in an interview with Star Plus about the pressure ahead of his last dance at the global showpiece.
Argentina will face the United Arab Emirates in their final warm-up game before opening the tournament on November 22 against Saudi Arabia, other Group C opponents include Mexico and Poland.
Who are Messi’s most important Argentina teammates?
Argentina’s most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer will have the crucial supporting cast of a very united squad bubbling with world class talent.
The chemistry possessed by La Selección is key in their World Cup quest where Messi will certainly be the focal point of attention.
Lionel Scaloni often rotates between a 4-4-2/4-3-3 shape but has preferred the two-pronged attack in the buildup to Qatar.
With Messi and Lautaro Martínez leading the line, they have both scored 21 goals each since Scaloni took over as coach.
Emi Martinez, Cristian Romero and Rodrigo De Paul are just some of the fantastic players desperate to reach glory with Messi. Ángel Di María has also walked the walk alongside Messi in their international careers and the latter knows he has a trusted lieutenant in the Juventus man.
The rest of the team is fortified with quality and experience, including younger talents like Julián Álvarez and Enzo Fernández. Paulo Dybala suffered an unfortunate injury while taking a penalty for AS Roma versus Leece but still has a chance to make the World Cup squad if he can prove his fitness in time for the tournament.
A nation that has appeared in five World Cup finals looks hungry for more and Scaloni has South America’s highest male international scorer with 90 goals in his ranks.
What could go wrong?
They might well bring the title of world champions back to South America after 20 years, on Messi’s farewell. If only Albiceleste wishes were horses.
In reality, it will take an immense effort in all phases of the game to wrestle the World Cup from Europe’s top nations, or from Brazil in fact. Nevertheless, Argentina are one of the teams to watch at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, they just need to stay unbeaten.