• Friday, March 29, 2024

Sport

Former England star Wayne Rooney backs Messi’s Argentina to win World Cup 2022

Lionel Messi of Argentina disembarks the airplane at Hamad International Airport ahead of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at on November 17, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

By: Shubham Ghosh

Former England footballer Wayne Rooney has backed Argentina backed by Lionel Messi to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar while comparing the maestro with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 37-year-old Rooney, who had played three World Cups, claimed that the La Albiceleste have a good team to back their 35-year-old captain who is likely playing in his final edition of the quadrennial tournament.

According to Rooney, the two-time champions will be confident following their Copa America title win last year and also have advantage due to the warm weather of the host nation.

Speaking to The Times, Rooney said, “For me, Argentina are the favourites. Unlike in 2018, they have plenty of good, solid players around Lionel Messi such as Lautaro Martínez, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul and of course Angel Di Maria.

“Winning the Copa America last year will have given them confidence and has taken a bit of pressure off them. The climate will suit them too. The only thing they are missing is a No 9, that focal point in attack, but I think they will be really dangerous.”

Rooney also put Messi ahead of Ronaldo despite playing with the latter for a long time at Manchester United. He said the Portuguese star is an out-and-out goalscorer while Messi is an all-round footballer.

“Everyone has different views on Messi and Ronaldo but I have said many times that I think Messi is the best. I have watched lots of videos of Diego Maradona, who was a similar player, but Messi is better. He has everything — the way he controls games, his dribbling, his assists — whereas Ronaldo is more of a goalscorer.

“It would be a great story for football if either Messi or Ronaldo won the World Cup. I have heard some of the Argentine players saying that they want to win it for Messi. That’s crazy — and might only increase the pressure on them.”

Neither Messi nor Ronaldo have won the World Cup so far and will give it all to make the dream come true. Messi came closest to winning the trophy in 2014 when Argentina lost to Germany in the final while Portugal’s best result in the tournament came way back in 1966 when they had finished third.

Argentina, who last won the trophy in 1986 under the magical leadership of Diego Maradona, will kick off their campaign in Group C against Saudi Arabia in Lusail on Tuesday (22).

Portugal’s opening fixture in Group H is against Ghana in Doha on Thursday (24).

Related Stories

Loading