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– Lionel Messi has dismissed “rumours” about his fitness and said he is ready to lead Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar.
– There have been suggestions that Messi has been missing parts of training sessions because of an ankle injury but the Paris Saint-Germain forward said he will play against Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday.
– “I’m feeling well,” Messi told a news conference on Monday. “I am very well physically and I feel in good condition. I think I come here in really good form, both personally and physically.
🚨 Lionel Messi: "I am feeling very well, I am very well. Playing condition, I think that I come here in great form both personally and physically. I have no issues whatsoever."
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) November 21, 2022
Also Read: Messi rates Argentina’s chances of winning trophy
– “There are no issues whatsoever. I heard there were rumours of having to miss part of training or be away from the team because of a blow but it’s nothing out of the ordinary.”
🚨 Lionel Messi: "I have no issues whatsoever. I heard there were rumors about having to miss part of the training or training a part of the training, no, it's just precautions. Nothing strange or out of the ordinary."
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) November 21, 2022
– Messi has arrived in Qatar to take part in his fifth World Cup and, having turned 35 in June, reiterated it will be the last time he features at the tournament.
– He will be 39 when the next World Cup is played in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026 and he said Qatar offers the last chance to lift the trophy.
– “I’m aware it’s a very special moment,” he added. “It’s most likely my last World Cup and the last opportunity to make my dream a reality. I’m really happy and really excited and I want to try to enjoy this World Cup.
🚨 Lionel Messi: "We are ready, we feel well and it's always such a special moment to play a World Cup. The atmosphere, a new beginning ahead of a new match. It's always very special."
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) November 21, 2022
🚨 Lionel Messi: "I haven't done anything different, I just took care of myself. I have worked as I have done throughout my entire career. This is a special moment, most likely my last World Cup. My last opportunity to make my dream, our dream a reality."
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) November 21, 2022
– “I think age as well makes you see things differently. Maybe now I give more importance to small details because before I didn’t do it. I’ll try now to focus more on the details and today enjoying it is more important.”
– Argentina begin their World Cup campaign looking to win the tournament for the first time since 1986.
– They are second favourites behind Brazil but Messi believes the pressure is off the team after lifting the Copa America in 2021 — although said similarities between this squad and the one which reached the final in 2014.
– “I’m not sure we feel better [than before other World Cups] but we just won a competition and that is very reassuring,” he added.
– “It helps you work in a different way and you don’t feel as anxious. You don’t put as much pressure on yourself so we focus on enjoying ourselves.
🚨 Lionel Messi: "We just won a tournament and obviously it helps you work in a different way. You don't feel as anxious. IT doesn't put as much pressure on you, we just focus on enjoying our time with the national team."
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) November 21, 2022
– “The squad reminds me of 2014, very united and clear about what we have to do on the pitch and the way we have to play.
– “It’s great to be here in good form because it gives you so much confidence.”
🚨 Lionel Messi: "This squad really reminds me of that of 2014, it was a very similar strong. We were very united, we were very clear about what we had to do on a pitch and it's great to come here with such great form and it gives you confidence."
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) November 21, 2022
#Qatar2022 Hasta ahí la palabra de Lionel Messi en la previa del debut ante Arabia Saudita. pic.twitter.com/EQR5PLanSQ
— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 21, 2022
