Messi feels Argentina deserve their place

Hat-trick from star man kills off fears of former winners missing out on 2018 finals

Hat-trick hero Lionel Messi believes Argentina deserve to go to Russia next summer after he saved their World Cup dreams.

Jorge Sampaoli’s side beat Ecuador 3-1 in their final must-win qualifier despite going behind to Romario Ibarra’s first-minute goal.

But Barcelona’s Messi, who came out of a brief international retirement last year, scored three times to send Argentina to next year’s tournament after they eventually finished third in South American qualifying.

“We deserve to be there after what we have gone through during qualifying,” Messi told Marca.

“We did not deserve to miss out and our place at the tournament is merited.

“Of course things were made even more difficult for us when we went a goal behind.

“It isn’t easy to play here with the unique conditions (the high altitude in Quito) but fortunately for us everything went perfectly.

“It was important for us that everything went well and when everybody is together in the same direction, it is a lot easier for us.”

Argentina were in real danger of failing to reach the World Cup after beginning the day in sixth place and out of the play-off spots.

Boss Sampaoli told a press conference: “I told the group, Messi did not owe the World Cup to Argentina, but football owed the World Cup to Messi.”

With Brazil already qualified, six teams – Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Paraguay – kicked-off their final encounters knowing they could still secure one of the automatic qualification places.

Uruguay did their bit by beating Bolivia, Argentina eased through with Messi’s hat-trick but Colombia and Peru could only draw, which saw the Colombians claim a top-four berth as Chile and Paraguay both lost to miss out on the finals.

Peru, who finished fifth, still have a chance to make it to Russia but must negotiate their way through a twolegged play-off against New Zealand next month.

Messi will be joined at the finals by world football’s other undisputed superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, after Portugal’s 2-0 win over Switzerland.

Ronaldo saluted Portugal’s team effort after they secured their place in December’s draw.

The Euro 2016 winners left it late, requiring a victory over the Swiss in Tuesday night’s final group match to avoid dropping into the play-offs.

The 32-year-old wrote on Twitter: “Great team effort! Thank you all for your support. Russia, here we come!!”

Picture: Getty Images. Argentina’s hero Lionel Messi celebrates after netting in the 3-1 win over Ecuador in Quito that sealed his country’s qualification.