Messi arrives at Argentina’s pre-World Cup base in Abu Dhabi
ARGENTINA captain Lionel Messi has arrived at the team’s pre-World Cup training base in Abu Dhabi.
Photographs on social media showed the 35-year-old being welcomed with warm embraces on Monday. He was carrying utensils for his beloved mate tea in one hand.
Messi played 75 minutes for Paris Saint-Germain in a 5-0 win over Auxerre at the Parc des Princes on Sunday. He had previously been forced to rest for one game due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Argentina play a friendly on Wednesday against the United Arab Emirates before their World Cup opener in Qatar against Saudi Arabia on Nov 22.
Mexico and Poland are the other group opponents for the Albiceleste, who won the Copa America last year and are among the favourites in Qatar.
Messi, one the greats of the game, has never won the World Cup and came closest in 2014 when Argentina lost the final to Germany.