MESSI: LIFTING WORLD CUP IS MY GLORIOUS OBSESSION

LIONEL MESSI has given an emotional insight into his World Cup obsession – after admitting he could not bear to retire from football without winning it.

Argentina’s dreams of glory are hanging perilously in the balance, following their draw with Iceland and a miserable 3-0 defeat against Croatia in their first two matches.

Now they face Nigeria in St Petersburg on Tuesday, needing victory to reach the last 16 – although even that will not be 100 per cent certain if Iceland beat Croatia by a bigger score the same day.

But Messi (above) has hinted that lifting the World Cup has become an obsession after a career in which he has won absolutely everything else.

He said: “It means so much because, for Argentina, the World Cup is special – and for me too.

“I’ve always had the dream of watching me raise the World Cup – and then seeing the emotion that goes with it.

“My hair stands on end just thinking about that moment. It would make millions of Argentines in the world happy.

“So we cannot give up on that dream. I have won all the most important tournaments, but I am ambitious to the end.

“I would not like to retire from active football without being a world champion with my country.”

Unfortunately for Messi, that possibility still remains.

Even if his side squeeze through, they have hardly looked like world-beaters in Russia so far – and he will be 34 when the next World Cup arrives in Qatar in 2022.