Messi determined to pay his ‘debt’
Argentina captain Lionel Messi said on Monday his generation has a score to settle at the World Cup in Russia after a series of agonizing near misses in major tournaments.
“The debt we owe is to ourselves, not to the people. We always give our all, we reached three finals. We haven’t been far off,” Messi said in an interview with Fox Sports.
Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany 1-0 after extra time and then finished runner-up at successive Copa America tournaments, losing to Chile on penalties in 2015 and 2016.
“We always take each World Cup as a big opportunity, and now more than ever because an important generation will move on, several players will change,” Messi said ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Spain in Madrid.
Vice-captain Javier Mascherano, of Hebei China Fortune, has already announced he will retire from international duty after the World Cup, while Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain will all be 30 come the finals.
Messi, who will turn 31 during the competition, hasn’t decided on his Argentina future. He would be 35 for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“In Russia it will be a good opportunity. Argentina is always a candidate for the title because of its image, its history. But this year, we are not favorites,” Messi added. “Spain, Brazil, Germany and France are above us.”
The Barcelona forward sat out Friday’s 2-0 victory over Italy in Manchester with a thigh muscle problem but came through Monday’s training session in Madrid and is expected to start against the 2010 world champion.
Argentina will play Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in Group D at the World Cup.
The country last lifted the trophy in 1986 when Diego Maradona’s wizardry lit up the tournament.
Coach Jorge Sampaoli last week described the current Argentina team as “more Messi’s side than mine”.
“Football is about the players. What I meant was he has the power to create links and communicate out on the field,” Sampaoli said.
“He can generate a lot of stuff. It’s impossible to teach something to Messi.”
“We are in a place where Leo is untouchable,” added Sampaoli, before suggesting his team would be built around the advice he picked up from Messi.