Lionel Messi says Argentina up against ‘other favourites’ in World Cup repeat bid

MIAMI – Lionel Messi says Argentina fans are right to dream of a second straight World Cup crown, but warns that other contenders, including France and Spain, “are in better shape”.

“There are a lot of guys who are dealing with injuries or a lack of match fitness, but the truth is that when the group is together, it has been proven that it competes and always wants to win,” the 38-year-old said of Argentina in an interview with host Pollo Alvarez on YouTube.

But the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has made Inter Miami the must-watch team of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the US, said the competition will be stiff.

“As of today, France are in great shape again. They have a ton of top-level players,” he added of the team whom Argentina beat in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

He also tipped Spain and Brazil as favourites, called Portugal “very competitive”, and noted that traditional European powerhouses Germany and England are always dangerous.

Messi, who turns 39 on June 24, has yet to officially confirm his participation in the tournament, which will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the US, Mexico and Canada.

Nevertheless, the former Barcelona star stressed that he has not set any time limits on his illustrious career as his competitive hunger remains.

“I love playing football, and I’m going to do it until I can’t any more,” said Messi, who earned the MLS Most Valuable Player honour in 2025 as he sparked Miami to the title and led the league in goals.

“I’m competitive, I like to win at everything... I don’t even let my son win at video games.”

Meanwhile in other World Cup news, football’s world governing body FIFA announced on May 8 that it will hold separate opening ceremonies before the first games in each of the three host countries for the global showpiece.

The 48-team tournament kicks off on June 11 in Mexico City, where Grammy Award-winning Mexican band Mana will be performing as part of a line-up that also includes singers Alejandro Fernandez and Belinda, FIFA said in a post on X.

The concert will highlight Mexican culture and include indigenous and “modern folkloric” performers, it added.

Canadian singers Alanis Morissette, Michael Buble, Alessia Cara, William Prince and Bangladeshi-American Sanjoy – a DJ based in Los Angeles – will perform ahead of Canada’s opening group-stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12.

FIFA said that a “mosaic-inspired reimagining of the FIFA World Cup trophy will reflect Canada’s diversity and community” at the concert.

On the same day, American singer Katy Perry will headline an opening ceremony ahead of the US team’s match against Paraguay in Los Angeles, where rap star Future will also perform. The line-up also includes Anitta, Lisa, Rema and Tyla.

The US concert is designed around “delivering a high-energy spectacle that reflects the scale, ambition and cultural power of the tournament itself”, FIFA said.

This year’s edition marks the second time the World Cup is being co-hosted by multiple countries. In 2002, it was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, with the South Koreans staging the opening ceremony and Japan the final. AFP, REUTERS