Cup performance decider for Messi

ARGENTINA captain Lionel Messi says his international future will be determined by his country’s performance at the World Cup in Russia.

“It will depend on how far we go, how we’re going to finish,” the Barcelona forward said in an interview with Spanish daily Sport.

“We’ve just lost three finals in a row, which has led to us going through some difficult moments with the press,” Messi said.

“Notably with the Argentine press because we have differences of opinion over what it means to make these three finals.”

Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final 1-0 to Germany after extra time, before suffering successive defeats by Chile on penalties at the Copa America in 2015 and 2016.

Messi, who will turn 31 during the World Cup, believes Spain, Brazil, Germany, France and Belgium are the leading contenders for the title.

Argentina launch their World Cup campaign against Iceland on Saturday in Moscow, with games to follow against Croatia and Nigeria in Group D.