JAKARTA - Lionel Messi will take a break from his soap opera in Barcelona. He will lead his team-mates in the Argentina national team, in action in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
The quadrennial football event to be held in Qatar may be Messi's last chance to win a trophy that he has never earned. The Albiceleste captain said his only goal at this time was to win the World Cup.
The 33-year-old, who won the Ballon d'Or six times, has won everything with Barcelona but this is nothing compared to his success with the national team.
"My only goal right now is to win the World Cup with the national team," he said as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, October 7.
He almost won the trophy when he lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.
On Thursday this week he will lead Argentina against Ecuador who is building a foothold in realizing this only ambition.
He will be 35 when the Qatar World Cup is held and will be 39 at the next World Cup to be held in North America.
Facing Ecuador in his homeland is sure to welcome Messi, but it can also be potentially difficult.
Four years ago at the start of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers du Russia, Ecuador overthrew Argentina 2-0 at River Plate's iconic Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
The defeat inspired Messi to retaliate with a hat trick in Argentina's last qualifier at home to Ecuador, which saw the two-time world champion stroll to Russia.
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