Argentina heads for World Cup, but hurdles still lie ahead

best player in the world is luckily Argentine”, Sampaoli told reporters. “Messi does not owe a World Cup to Argentina, it is football that owes a World Cup to him. We have the chance to help, he is the best player ever.”

The dependence on Messi has been proportional to the lack of goals from other players.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his third goal against Ecuador during their 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match at the Atahualpa Olympic Stadium in Quito, Ecuador, on Tuesday. AP PHOTO/FERNANDO VERGARA