{"id":1549,"date":"2022-11-15T12:49:51","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T12:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=1549"},"modified":"2022-11-26T13:04:09","modified_gmt":"2022-11-26T13:04:09","slug":"2022-11-14-world-cup-messi-argentina-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/2022-11-14-world-cup-messi-argentina-preview","title":{"rendered":"World Cup: Last Hurrah for Messi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lionel Messi is set for one final bow at the FIFA World Cup as Argentina seek to be crowned champions of the world for the first time since 1986.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After four World Cup heartbreaks, Messi prepares for what is likely to be his closing act at the most prestigious sporting showpiece. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has won almost every major honour on offer, but there is just one title which eludes the 35-year-old: the magnificent golden trophy raised aloft by the world champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following an emotional departure from boyhood club Barcelona in summer 2021, the Argentine is now 18 months into his chapter with Paris St-Germain and his second season in the French capital has proven far more fruitful than a frustrating debut campaign with the Parisians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messi has registered 11 goals and 14 assists for PSG in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League. In 2021\/22 he mustered an identical tally throughout the entire season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has struck up an electric partnership with fellow superstars Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 (France) and Neymar (Brazil) as one of the most potent attacking trios in world football, and all three contingents have been in free-scoring form leading up to the World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Messi, Neymar & Mbapp\u00e9 with PSG.
(Photo by AFP via Getty Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Messi’s legendary status is already cemented in football folklore although there is little doubt he will be looking to further solidify his place among the sport’s most coveted stars. He has bagged 90 goals in 164 appearances for Argentina, 34 goals more than compatriot Gabriel Batistuta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messi and Argentina came agonisingly close in Brazil 2014, narrowly losing in the final to a 113th minute winner by Germany substitute Mario G\u00f6tze. Messi, however, didn’t walk away empty-handed after picking up the Golden Ball, awarded to the best player at the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the last edition four years ago, Argentina bowed out to eventual winners France in the last-16. This was the nation’s worst World Cup return since crashing out from the groups in 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier in Messi’s illustrious career, La Albiceleste<\/em> were knocked out of by hosts Germany in the quarter-finals in 2006. Four years later in South Africa, manager Diego Maradona could only lead his nation to the quarters, again a losing effort to bronze-medallists Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, Qatar 2022 will be a last World Cup hurrah for Messi and hence it is now or never for Argentina to go all out for its most promising player to taste World Cup glory. La Albiceleste<\/em> were last crowned world champions in 1986 courtesy of Maradona’s stewardship and this coming tournament will be the first since the icon’s passing in November 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Messi and Maradona, legends of Argentina football, in 2009.
(Photo by AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

After years of failing to get his hands on a trophy with his country, last year Messi saw off the prospect of ending his playing career without an international winner’s medal. Argentina were crowned champions of South America for the first time since 1993, as they beat neighbours and rivals Brazil in the Copa Am\u00e9rica final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year Argentina beat European champions Italy in La Finalissima<\/em>, as Messi claimed a second international title within a span of 12 months. Now the Argentine skipper and talisman is looking to add an elusive World Cup title to the mantelpiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Argentina will arrive in Qatar as Copa Am\u00e9rica reigning champions for the first time since 1994, while the World Cup has not seen the hands of a South American winner since Brazil in 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under current manager Lionel Scaloni, Argentina are 35 matches unbeaten \u2013 winning 25 and drawing 10 since they last tasted defeat. La Albiceleste<\/em> have scored almost four times as many goals as they conceded in those 35 games (69:18) and they were last on the losing side at Copa 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His fifth #FIFAWorldCup<\/a> awaits ??

Will Lionel Messi lead Argentina to glory? pic.twitter.com\/2WgBDJ7Pig<\/a><\/p>\u2014 FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 13, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>