Ex-Argentina striker Gabriel Batistuta had various types of expectations for Lionel Messi in the FIFA World Cup 2022, but the Paris Saint-Germain striker appears to have surprised him. Because of his age and experience, the former star expected the 35-year-old to be “much calmer” in this tournament. But that hasn’t been the case thus far.
“I expected him to be much calmer, but he is playing like a 20-year-old. And, that’s because he’s hungry, he’s here to win the Cup. That’s what football needs, that’s what Leo is spreading to the whole team,”
said Batistuta, who held the record for the most world cup goals scored for Argentina before Messi scored his 11th in the semifinal against Croatia.
Messi is a footballer who outperforms everyone else; he is not an alien, said Batistuta. He also added that when Leo outperforms someone, they cannot suffer; all he does is make people happy.
Batistuta believes La Albiceleste can defeat France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final. He feels Lionel Scaloni’s team has “all the conditions” to win the championship.
“There’s something in the atmosphere, a positive energy, for this to happen. For Messi and for the fans too.”
Messi, along with Kylian Mbappe, is currently the world cup’s leading goal-scorer. While both PSG players have scored five goals, Messi has three assists to Mbappe’s two.
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The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has already stated that the World Cup final against France will be his final match for the national team. Given the stakes, he would like to end his illustrious career on a high note by winning his first world title, which has been missing thus far.
Argentina are in their sixth final in the tournament’s history. They were world champions twice, in 1978 and 1986, but were runners-up four times.
Meanwhile, France, the defending champion, are aiming for a third title after winning it in 1998 and 2018. They also have a chance to become only the third country in history to win two World Cups in a row. Brazil and Italy are the only other countries that have successfully defended their world championship title.
