In what could well be the last World Cup for Lionel Messi, the Argentina star is looking to guide his country to its first world title since 1986.
Messi might be approaching the end of his glittering career but he can still have a massive impact with the South American contenders for the trophy in Qatar.
Messi Continues To Shine
With seven goals in his first 13 Ligue 1 appearances this season, Messi continues to cause defence problems at the age of 35. The former Barcelona star has long been established as one of the biggest names in world soccer and his efforts have gone a long way to promoting the game into areas outside of the sport.
Soccer has branched out into other fields and with soccer-themed slot games available from the development of casino game software, the popularity of the sport continues to grow around the world. Messi has had a big role to play in the sport’s growth but his playing career will conclude at some stage.
Even in his mid-thirties, it does not look like Messi is slowing up just yet, with the forward also scoring four goals in his first five Champions League games this season. His recent form will have Argentina fans excited about what he might be able to help them achieve at the World Cup in the Middle East.
Messi And Co Have Gone Far Before
Having progressed to the final of the 2014 World Cup, many of these Argentina players know what it takes to reach the showpiece event of the biggest of tournaments.
The Argentines fell short of getting the job done in that final, in an agonizing extra-time defeat to Germany, with Mario Götze getting the winning goal. It was a heartbreaking end to the tournament in Brazil for Messi and the rest of the squad but it was an experience all concerned with Argentina will have learned from.
Fast-forward to 2021 and Argentina found themselves in another massive game on the big stage, as they faced their old rivals Brazil in the Copa America final.
Taking on the Brazilians at their own iconic Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, this time Messi and his team-mates were the ones celebrating a 1-0 victory, with Ángel Di María getting the crucial goal. Having finished as a runner-up in the Copa America in 2007, 2015 and 2016, it will have been a huge relief for Messi to finally get his hands on the trophy.
This Argentina squad has been through a lot over the last eight years from the low of losing the 2014 World Cup final to the high of finally ending their wait for a Copa America last year. Messi has been at the heart of it all and success in Qatar would be the fairytale ending for the iconic player in what might well be his World Cup swansong.