Lionel Messi claims Argentina are World Cup contenders in South Africa
Lionel Messi(credit:
Wikipedia)
Argentina star Lionel Messi insists Diego Maradona’s men are contenders at the World Cup.
Two-time winners Argentina limped through qualifying to reach this summer’s tournament and are not one of the bookmakers’ favourites.
But Messi maintains: “Player for player, there is no better national team than ours.”
The 22-year-old heads to the World Cup off the back of another sensational season for Barcelona.
Messi won the European Golden Boot and finished the top goalscorer in the Champions League on his way to being named FIFA World Player of the Year.
But he has often been criticised for not repeating his club form on the international stage.
However, the Barca man insists he will not let the criticism get to him.
“At this stage I don’t have to prove anything,” he added.
“I’ve come there to do things well for me and for my team-mates.”
Messi is 10/1 with SkyBet, totesport, Blue Square, Paddy Power, StanJames, 888Sport, bodog, William Hill and extrabet to add the World Cup’s Golden Boot to his domestic achievements.