Lionel Messi admits he’s scared that injuries may cost him a place at his last-ever World Cup after watching his Argentina team-mates Paulo Dybala and Angel Di Maria pick up problems just weeks before the tournament in Qatar
- Lionel Messi recently announced the World Cup in Qatar will be his last
- The 35-year-old came close to winning the tournament in Brazil in 2014
- He has admitted to being ‘worried’ about injuries for the winter tournament
- Paulo Dybala and Angel Di Maria are both doubts for the World Cup
Lionel Messi has opened up about his injury concerns ahead of the Qatar World Cup after fellow Argentinian forwards Paulo Dybala and Angel Di Maria became doubts for the tournament following injuries.
Messi himself has missed PSG‘s last two games with a calf strain, and will be desperate to perform in a World Cup that he recently revealed will be his last.
The 35-year-old came agonisingly close to winning the tournament in 2014, but ultimately lost to Germany after an extra-time winner for Mario Gotze in the final.
Legendary forward Lionel Messi recently announced the World Cup in Qatar will be his last
His Argentina teammate Paulo Dybala has a quadricep issue and is a doubt for the tournament
He is now concerned that the winter timing for the World Cup may affect the number of injuries. He told DirecTV: ‘Injuries are a worry. This is a different World Cup which is played at a different time of the year to previous tournaments and it’s so imminent any little thing that happens to you can force you out.
‘With 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.’
Di Maria’s muscle injury is not as bad as initially feared and he is expected to play in the tournament, but Dybala remains a serious doubt due to a quadricep problem.
Angel Di Maria is also currently out injured, but could recover in time for the World Cup
Messi continued: ‘It’s something you think about but I feel going out to play with that in your head can be contradictory as well.
‘The best thing you can do is perform as normal and play your game as you always do.
‘I hope Di Maria and Dybala recover in time. They have enough time to do so and reach the tournament in good shape.’