Messi on World Cup mission in 'Last Dance' for Argentina
Lionel Messi has won nearly 40 trophies for club and country in an illustrious career but the Argentine forward's glittering resume has one major omission -- a World Cup winner's medal.
The debate over the greatest of all time is one that will never be settled, but there is no doubt the diminutive playmaker is a true great of the modern era with seven Ballons d'Or to his name.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. In the eyes of many Argentines, he ranks a close second to the late Diego Maradona who led the South American nation to World Cup glory in 1986. But that could change if he inspires one of the pre-tournament favourites to glory in Qatar.
Maradona did not achieve as much as Messi in his club career but that magical run to the title in Mexico conferred on him immortality and a place in the history of the football-mad nation.
Messi has often been described as Maradona reincarnated but the closest he came to the World Cup title was in the 2014 final as he shuffled past the gleaming trophy to accept the award for best player at the tournament, eyes downcast.
Argentina's 1-0 loss to Germany in Brazil was among a run of gut-wrenching defeats in five consecutive major finals as they wondered when the agony would end.
Messi unwillingly wore a bulls-eye on his back every time Argentina failed and even announced his retirement in 2016 when the pressure got too much before he was convinced to return.
Last year, however, the burden was lifted off his shoulders when Argentina won the Copa America to end a 28-year trophy drought.
Messi, aged 34, had been their spark and was involved in nearly every goal Argentina scored in the tournament.
BEATING HEART
He was the beating heart of the side who broke down in tears as he was engulfed by his team mates at the final whistle after they beat arch-rivals Brazil.
"I have peace of mind of having achieved the dream that has been denied to me so many times," Messi said.
"It's very difficult to win a World Cup or a Copa America. At the time they didn't value what we did, they only put emphasis on the fact that we didn't achieve the aim."
With a team that has a rich mix of youth and experience, Messi's spark has grown ever brighter and the 35-year-old captain has become a man on a mission, evidenced by his sudden spurt of goals for Argentina.
Lionel Scaloni's team are on a 35-match unbeaten run and Messi has scored 14 goals for his country since that Copa America triumph -- including all five in a win over Estonia -- to take his international tally to 90 ahead of his last World Cup.
"There's some anxiety and nerves at the same time. It is the last one (World Cup). I've been playing with the national team for a long time now," said Messi, who made his Argentina debut in 2005 and has over 160 caps.
"There have been spectacular moments, like in 2014, 2015 and 2016 - but we didn't win and were criticised for not being champions. We did everything right until the finals."
In Qatar, Messi will look to lead his side one step further and justify his place in the pantheon of greats alongside his idol Maradona -- as equals.
THE HOUSE SCALONI BUILT
Argentina's nearly three decades of pain and run of tearful losses in major finals came to an end last year when they won the Copa America and Lionel Scaloni's team will head to the World Cup by taking confidence from that triumph in Brazil.
Having last lost at the 2019 Copa America, 'La Albiceleste' fly into Qatar on the back of a 35-match unbeaten streak and as one of the firm favourites to break Europe's 16-year stranglehold on the World Cup.
Much of the credit for winning a major final after six failed attempts goes to Scaloni, the 44-year-old who rose from the role of assistant to doomed manager Jorge Sampaoli, to caretaker, and eventually permanent boss.
The Argentine FA entrusted the rebuilding project to Scaloni who took over after their 2018 World Cup exit in the last 16 and with him at the helm Argentina followed up the 2021 Copa win by comfortably beating Euro winners Italy in June's 'Finalissima'.
That victory was impressive not just because of their style and the 3-0 scoreline but more so because South American teams were not playing competitive matches against their European counterparts following the advent of the Nations League.
"I hope that people identify with this team," Scaloni said after he was recently rewarded with a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup.
"Whatever has to be in the World Cup (it will be), but we are going to leave every last drop of sweat (out there)."
Argentina had been a top heavy side for years with a luxury of options to choose from in attack but were let down by a defence and midfield that leaked goals. Scaloni's first order of business was changing that.
Out went ageing players and in came young, hungry hopefuls as Scaloni implemented his vision for a successful team that would later be nicknamed 'La Scaloneta' -- the house Scaloni built.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, centre-back Cristian Romero and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul formed the spine of the new-look team as Scaloni found players capable of taking some of the burden off Lionel Messi's shoulders.
Their possession-based game, with players such as Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes and De Paul dictating the tempo, freed Messi to be involved further up the pitch where he is most lethal.
Their talisman has been encouraged by Scaloni's changes and tactical acumen, growing more determined to perform well for Argentina and even playing through injury in the Copa America semis and final.
"Scaloni is one of us," Messi said. "It was he who selected the national team, the one who believed, the one who took charge at a difficult moment.
"He gave us confidence, he was bringing in new people, he always knew what he wanted and we grew. From the Copa America 2019, we took a leap."
The 35-year-old was the best player at the 2014 World Cup when he came agonisingly close to replicating Diego Maradona's success by leading Argentina to World Cup glory, only to be beaten in the final by a superior Germany team.
Messi is the sole surviving member from that starting lineup at the Maracana Stadium. But this time he has the support of a squad built by Scaloni to win not just matches, but titles.
ARGENTINA AT THE WORLD CUP
The following is a stat box on Argentina at the FIFA World Cup.
FIFA Ranking: 8
Odds: 7/1
PREVIOUS TOURNAMENTS:
Argentina have appeared at 17 different World Cups, winning the tournament twice (1978 and 1986) and finishing runners-up three times. Their last appearance in the final came in 2014 when they lost to Germany in extra time.
Argentina scraped through to the knockouts of the 2018 World Cup after finishing second in the group, but were eliminated 4-3 by champions France in a see-saw last-16 encounter that was considered one of the most entertaining games of the tournament.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED:
Argentina finished second in the CONMEBOL qualifiers behind Brazil despite one of their games against their South American rivals being abandoned when Brazilian health officials stopped the match amid alleged COVID-19 quarantine violations.
Like Brazil, they were unbeaten during the campaign where they scored 27 goals in 17 games while conceding only eight and keeping 10 clean sheets. Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez were Argentina's top scorers with seven goals each.
FORM GUIDE:
Argentina are on a 35-match unbeaten run since they last lost a match to Brazil in 2019, winning their first major trophy in 28 years when they lifted the 2021 Copa America title.
The team has not been tested since their 'Finalissima' win over Italy in June, however, comfortably winning their last three matches against Estonia, Honduras and Jamaica while scoring 11 goals and conceding none.
Skipper Messi has been in blistering form, scoring nine times in his last three games, including all five goals in the 5-0 win over Estonia.
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