The Argentina captain has offered his take on who are the three main title contenders in Qatar.
Lionel Messi believes Brazil, France, and England are the favorites to win the 2022 World Cup.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner heads to Qatar this winter to make his fifth and final World Cup appearance. He naturally hopes to go out with a bang, namely by leading Argentina to a first World Cup title since 1986.
However, while feeling upbeat about the 2021 Copa America champions’ prospects, Messi reckons there are other teams in a stronger position.
“Whenever we talk about candidates, we always talk about the same teams,” Messi told the South American football federation, CONMEBOL.
“If I have to put some above others, I think Brazil, France, and England are a little above the rest. But the World Cup is so difficult and so complicated that anything can happen.”
Argentina are in Group C for the upcoming tournament alongside Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland.
“We are very excited. We have a very nice group that is very eager, but we think about going little by little,” Messi said.
“We hope to start the World Cup in the best way to face everything that comes after. The more you play and the more time you spend on the pitch, the more you get to know each other.”
Argentina, who exited at the last-16 stage of the 2018 World Cup, will face Saudi Arabia next Tuesday for their Group C opener.
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