October 8 – Lionel Messi has confirmed that Qatar will be his fifth and final World Cup as he seeks to win the tournament for the first time to cap a stellar career.
“There’s some anxiety and nerves at the same time … it is the last one,” Messi said in an interview with Star Plus.
It is the first time the Paris Saint-Germain superstar, now 35, has spoken openly about his future after the tournament, which starts on Nov. 20.
Messi did not make it clear whether he would retire from the national team after Qatar.
Argentina, who the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, open their account on Nov 22 against Saudi Arabia in Group C before facing Mexico and Poland.
They are unbeaten in 35 matches and arrive with their confidence high after winning the 2021 Copa America final against arch-rivals Brazil.
“I don’t know whether we are big favourites, but I believe Argentina is a candidate because of its history,” said Messi who has won everything there is to win apart from the biggest one of all. “But in a World Cup anything can happen, it isn’t always the favourites who win it.”
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