Former Argentine legend Javier Zanetti has predicted that Lionel Messi will win both the Golden Boot and the Ballon d’Or at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar 2022.
After rising through the FC Barcelona academy, Lionel Messi got his career off to a good start in Argentina when he helped his country win the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Messi then went on to win Olympic Games Gold with Argentina in Beijing. However, he failed to win a senior trophy for sixteen long years. Finally, he won his first major honor with Argentina when he defeated Brazil last year in the Copa América final.
Throughout the tournament, Messi played great football. He won the Golden Boot award, the highest assist provider award and was also named tournament MVP. The moment was very emotional for him and Argentina. And since then they haven’t looked back. Argentina lifted another trophy earlier this year when it defeated Italy 3-0 in the Finalissima final.
Javier Zanetti’s prediction on Lionel Messi
Having won everything in his club career, Lionel Messi is still missing the biggest piece of silver with his national team: the World Cup.
Messi has so far played in four World Cups for Argentina. He was very close in 2014 but Mario Gotze’s goal in extra time in the final ended Argentina’s journey. Even though Messi won the Ballon d’Or, it was surely not the result he would have wanted.
Now, the Argentina captain will once again look to aim to win the biggest trophy in world football when Argentina take part in the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Before that, former Argentine defender Javier Zanetti revealed in an interview with Ezzequiel that Lionel Messi will win the golden boot in Qatar. Zanetti also believes that the Argentine captain will be the best player in this edition’s World Cup and that is why he will win the Ballon d’Or award.
Talking more about the World Cup, Zanetti said he would like to avoid France in the final, but would like a rematch of the last Copa América final on soccer’s biggest stage.
Argentina is currently one of the fittest teams in the world. Lionel Scalonni’s boys are currently undefeated in their last 35 matches.
Like Argentina, Lionel Messi is also in good shape. He has scored nine goals in his last three games for the national team.
Messi will now hope to continue his great form and reach his last World Cup in the best possible shape.
