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Superstar Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain has disclosed that he is concerned about missing this year’s World Cup due to injury.
After acknowledging that this year’s World Cup in Qatar may be his final opportunity to win the renowned honor in his fifth attempt, Argentina captain Lionel Messi is motivated to do so.
The 35-year-old seven-time Ballon d’Or winner recently said that the World Cup in Qatar would be his final appearance.
He now admits that after watching Argentina’s Paulo Dybala and Angel Di Maria suffer injuries, he now worries that he could also be hurt and miss the World Cup.
Due to a calf strain, Messi missed PSG’s past two games, including the Champions League match against Benfica.
According to a statement to DirecTV Sports, “Injuries generate concern. This World Cup is different from past tournaments in that it is being played at a different time of the year, and because it is so close, any minor setback can eliminate you.
The reality is that after what happened to Dybala and Di Maria, you personally worry and get more frightened when you see those kinds of things.
You may think about it, but I believe that playing while having that thought in your head may also be paradoxical. The greatest thing you can do is carry on with your routine performance and game.
I wish Di Maria and Dybala a speedy recovery. They have ample time to complete this and yet make it to the competition in top shape.”
Messi had experienced grief in the 2014 World Cup final when Germany’s Mario Gotze ruined his dream with an extra-time goal.
In a different interview earlier this month, he stated: “Without a doubt, this will be my final World Cup. The decision has already been made.”
Sunday night’s matchup between PSG and Marseille, Ligue 1’s top-seeded team, will take place at the Parc des Princes.
The team of Christophe Galtier is in first place, but they are only one point ahead of Lorient in second and three points ahead of third-placed Marseille under Igor Tudor.
Messi is anticipated to play on Sunday. Prior to his calf injury, he was in excellent shape, having played 13 games this season with eight goals and eight assists.
Galtier said in a statement to the media on Friday: “Leo trained this morning, regularly with the group. He completed the entire session, and now we’ll wait to see how he responds to it.
We will also watch him tomorrow morning to see how he responds to the session. But right now, when I speak with you, I can definitely rely on Messi.”
Argentina is one of the favorites to win this year’s World Cup, and Brazil, France, and England are also strong contenders despite their recent struggles.
