Lionel Messi has opened up on his obsession of winning the World Cup, claiming he doesn’t want to retire until he’s won the biggest trophy in football.
The Argentinian celebrated his 31st birthday on Sunday but insists he will not give up on his dream of bringing the World Cup back to Argentina.
It was back to the drawing board for Jorge Sampaoli, who took a moment to wish Messi happy birthday at the start of the session, but the pair did not speak further.
Sampaoli’s side have been handed a lifeline since they stumbled to a 3-0 defeat against Croatia, which had left them in serious danger of being knocked out.
Nigeria’s win over Iceland threw the group wide open once again and Argentina must now beat the African side in their final group game to have any chance of progressing.
Messi was reported in the Mirror as saying: ‘It means so much because for Argentina the World Cup is special – and for me too.
‘I’ve always had the dream of watching me raise the World Cup. And then seeing the emotion that goes with it.
‘My hair stands on end just thinking about that moment. It would make millions of Argentine’s in the world happy.
‘So we cannot give up on that dream.
‘I have won all the most important tournaments but I am ambitious to the end. I would not like to retire from active football without being a world champion with my country.’
Despite some apparent animosity between Sampaoli and Messi on his birthday and calls for the coach’s immediate resignation, the Argentinian football association have backed Sampaoli for the time being – whose contract runs through to 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
President Claudio Tapia hit back at reports the coach could be sacked, saying: ‘You have seen the coach and the team training. It’s clear that what you are saying is a lie.’
Tapia refused to answer any further questions.
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