Lionel Messi tipped to end international career with FIFA World Cup triumph
Former Argentina striker Sergio Aguero has backed Lionel Messi to end his international career with a FIFA World Cup title under his belt.
The PSG star has endured a difficult time in Paris since arriving last summer, scoring just eight times across competitions. However, the 34-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant spell with the national team recently.
Messi ended his international duck with a glorious Copa America triumph last summer. La Albiceleste are heading to Qatar later this year buoyed by their recent success following an unbeaten qualification campaign.
Aguero believes anything is possible with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner in the team.
Speaking to Stake, as relayed by The Manchester Evening News, the former Barcelona ace also named Brazil, France and England among the favourites. He said:
“This could be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, so everyone in the country has high hopes. He is the greatest player of all time and a legend in Argentina, but winning the World Cup would be a perfect way to finish for him as an international player. Argentina were unbeaten in qualifying and only finished below Brazil, and with Messi in the team, anything is possible.”
He continued: “Brazil and France are strong teams, and England could be a threat after doing well in the Euros and the last World Cup. It should be an exciting tournamen,t and I’m looking forward to watching how it plays out.”
Messi came close to winning the FIFA World Cup in 2014, when Argentina made the final, but La Albiceleste came up short in the final against Germany.
Four years later in Russia. the two-time world champions lost to eventual winners France in the Round of 16.