It’s now or never for Messi as Argentina play Poland for survival
Doha, Qatar: Lionel Messi has already come to Argentina’s rescue at the World Cup. And he might just have to do it all over again.
Another emotionally charged encounter awaits Messi and the football-mad South American nation that worships him when Argentina meet Poland in their next match.
For Messi, this will probably be his last World Cup. For Poland, striker Robert Lewandowski, also might be too old when football’s biggest tournament rolls up next in 2026.
But less about those concerns. Because right now all eyes are on Messi,— one of the game’s greatest ever players
There are multiple permutations at play for the Group C finale: A win for the Argentines and they are sure to advance, likely as the group winners. A draw, and they can either finish in second place behind Poland or be squeezed out by either Saudi Arabia or Mexico, who are playing in a match taking place concurrently.
A loss? The team wouldn’t just be eliminated but humiliated and Messi might never be seen again. That scenario is too much for Argentina fans to take.
Perhaps it’s the reason why tears were shed on the field, among the technical staff and among the fanbase after Messi scored the crucial second-half goal to give Argentina their 2-0 win over Mexico on Saturday.
“Now another World Cup has begun,” said Messi, who will hope to score for the third straight match at this World Cup and has netted 13 goals for Argentina in 2022 — already a career-high haul in a single calendar year.
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