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By Martin Graham | 17th Nov 2022
As the FIFA World Cup draws nearer, the excitement has continued to grow day by day as Qatar will host 32 of the best teams in the World competing for the right to become World Champions. National squads have been named and nations are already arriving in Qatar with different hopes and dreams and players are aware of who the biggest threats to their success at the tournament would be. They will also be aware of who the favorites to win the World Cup will be as well. Take Lionel Messi for example.
When asked in an interview with ESPN about who the favorites for this year’s World Cup are, he mentioned bitter South American rivals Brazil and current World Cup holders France.
“I think France, even though they have had injured players, have terrible potential,” Messi said. “They have a lot of players and a coach who has been in the same group for a long time.
“They have already won a World Cup. Brazil have a block of quality players and a lot of players to create the imbalance. They have a nine, they have Ney… It’s hard to win.” Said the Argentina captain.
Recognizing these teams as the favorites to win the competition means that he also sees them as the biggest threats to his aim of conquering the world in Qatar.
Brazil are the overall favorites to win the FIFA World Cup according to the bookmakers and as Messi mentioned, they will be led by his PSG teammate Neymar, who has been in excellent form this season. They also have quality options at center forward for the first time in over a decade, arguably. Only Neymar has scored more goals for Brazil in 2022 than Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus has played a key role in Arsenal’s rise to the top of the Premier League table.
France may have been hit with injuries but they have still named a strong squad and remain one of the favorites to win it all again. Le Bleus have in their ranks the current best player in the world, Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and the player who will inevitably be a multiple time winner of the award for the next decade in Kylian Mbappe. Among other great players, this is a team filled with so much talent, they can not be taken lightly even on the back of injuries to key players like N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba.
Lionel Messi did not mention his own country so as to not put pressure on himself and his teammates but he knows that his nation is expectant. The 35-year-old is going to have his last chance at glory and will give it his all. Abiceleste are also one of the favorites to win the World Cup and have the talent to do so.
Lionel Messi and team begin their World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia on November 22.
