Lionel Messi Reveals 2 Countries Who Are Strong Contenders To Win Qatar World Cup 2022

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Lionel Messi thinks that there are the two countries that could win the Qatar World Cup 2022.

Qatar is hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022, which is set to begin on Nov. 20, and football fans worldwide have sparked discussions about which country would win the coveted trophy. Messi has also revealed his top picks, reported Asianet Newsable.

The Argentine forward who confirmed earlier this month that the upcoming tournament would be the last World Cup in his career, would be hoping he can lead his country to lifting the trophy. But the 35-year-old legend believed that apart from Argentina, there are two other countries that stand a strong chance to emerge as winners.

During an interview with DIRECTV, the Argentina captain was asked to name his favorites for the World Cup. He picked PSG teammates Kylian Mbappe's France and Neymar's Brazil as his two favorites to win this year's World Cup. Messi said that as for the favorites, there are big teams like "Brazil, Germany, France, England, Spain, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some." But if he had to keep one or two, "today I think Brazil and France are the two big candidates for this World Cup."

Since defeating Italy in the Finalissima and winning the Copa América in 2021, Argentina has been among the favorites to win the World Cup 2022. But the possibility of missing the prestigious tournament due to an injury has become a worry for Messi. Owing to the recent injuries to Argentina's Angel Di Maria and Paulo Dybala, Messi has started to doubt his fitness ahead of the World Cup.

The Argentina captain said that "injuries are a worry." He shared this is a different World Cup which is played at a different time of the year to previous tournament, and it is "so imminent any little thing that happens to you can force you out." He noted that what happened to Dybala and Di Maria, the truth is that personally "you worry and you're more afraid when you see those sort of things."

He has been in great form for PSG this season as he has already scored eight goals in 14 appearances across all competitions so far. He has also provided eight assists to his teammates. With the World Cup fast approaching, fans will hope that the star carries the form that he is showing for PSG into the tournament next month.