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World Cup victory will crown Messi as best ever

KADEEM SIMMONDS looks at Argentina’s prospects

Lionel Messi has won it all but Argentina will need to lift the World Cup on July 13 in order for him to go down as the greatest player of all time.

He has the talent to do so and manager Alejandro Sarbella has built his side around the little wizard, even leaving out Carlos Tevez simply because he doesn’t link up with Messi as well as Sergio Aguero.

Not that Tevez minds. The former Manchester United striker knows he is not part of the World Cup squad and has decided to use this summer to spend time with his family.

He said: “I’ve already bought tickets to go with my wife and my three children to Disney World.”

And while the Juventus striker spends time with Micky and Donald, Messi and co will be rubbing shoulders with the world’s elite and attempting to win Argentina’s first World Cup since 1986.

Qualification to the finals was relatively easy. 

Finishing top of their group, they scored 35 goals in 16 games and will look to outscore their opponents this summer.

With Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain flanking Messi, you can see why attack is Sarbella’s strongest part of the field.

As for the rest of Messi’s supporting cast, Sergio Romero’s lack of first-team action at Monaco is a worry and many feel that Mariano Andujar deserves to be the number one in Brazil.

Pablo Zabaleta was one of the best defenders in the Premier League last season and is a no-brainer at right back.

Ezequiel Garay is also a shoe-in to start after proving his worth in the qualifiers and had an impressive season for Benfica.

Federico Fernandez will partner Garay while Marcos Rojo will complete the back four but both have had a dip in form recently and will need to be at their best come the summer.

Javier Mascherano and Fernando Gago will be tasked with breaking up play and it is doubtful they will get much help from the forward players who are not known for their defensive cover.

Messi enters the tournament aged 26, the same age Diego Maradona was when he lifted the Jules Rimmet trophy for Argentina. Now is his time.

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