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Former Manchester United player Antonio Valencia wants Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup due to their main Lionel Messi.
Valencia made 99 appearances for Argentina’s South American rivals Ecuador, but says Messi’s achievements in football mean he deserves to finally lift the prestigious trophy.
The PSG attacker came close in 2014 as Argentina lost the final to Germany. Mario Gotze netted the only goal of the game as the Germans won 1-0 in extra time.
But Messi has been on top form in Qatar, and is joint-top of the scoring charts with five goals. He sits level with France star Kylian Mbappe.
Argentina star ‘truly wants to win the World Cup’
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While ex-Man United man Valencia admits that Argentina may be ‘insufferable’ if they lift the trophy, he says the nation deserve to win the final because of their star player Messi.
As reported by the Mirror, the Ecuadorian is convinced that Messi has his eyes set on finally clinching success. It will be his last ever appearance on the big stage.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game between France and Argentina, Valencia said: “I was with a group of friends recently and of those five friends, three of them said to me, ‘Look, if Argentina win we’ll have to put up with them for a long time. Even when they don’t win anything they’re insufferable. Imagine if they win!’
“I want Argentina to win for Messi, for everything he has accomplished in his career. Every player should want to emulate his work ethic, his humility, his performances. Messi is the standard.
“This version of Messi that I’ve been watching truly wants to win the World Cup. He’s fully focused on that. It’s a wonderful opportunity for him.”
Valencia with front row seat of Messi
Valencia has witnessed the talents of Messi up close, with the pair coming face to face in the 2011 Champions League final.
The Man United man played right-midfield on that night in Wembley, with Messi’s Barcelona running out as 3-1 winners, with the Argentine scoring his team’s second goal of the game.
In Qatar, Messi has almost single-handedly dragged his nation to the final. He has produced several world-class displays, and has found the back of the net more often than not when called upon.
Three of his five goals in the tournament have come from the spot, with the attacker missing a spot-kick against Poland.
Argentina and Messi aiming to upset Didier Deschamps
After helping knock out Croatia and the Netherlands, Messi and his Argentina teammates now face France in Sunday’s final.
Didier Deschamps’ men have been a strong force in the competition, edging past the likes of England, Poland and Morocco on their way to the last two. Both France and Argentina have won two World Cups each, with the former’s boss eager to land another for his nation.
When asked if Messi can help Argentina secure the 2022 World Cup, Deschamps replied: “We will do everything humanly possible for that not to happen. At the end of the match, someone is getting a third star on their shirt.”
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