MESSI TO MAKE THE LAST STEP IN HUGE FINAL
Daily Star Sunday|December 18, 2022
I'D always predicted Argentina to win it - and this is now Lionel Messi's moment.
PHIL THOMPSON
MESSI TO MAKE THE LAST STEP IN HUGE FINAL

The defeat against Saudi Arabia was a huge shock, although they've got better as the tournament has gone on.

They'd been on a sensational run before that Saudi game. Maybe it was simply a case of getting a defeat out of the way. I honestly think it was a strange blessing in disguise.

This isn't the best Argentina side in history by a long stretch.

But they've found a way and all the players are on a journey with Messi. It'll be his last hurrah - I can see him retiring not long after this.

He wants it desperately because those comparisons with Diego Maradona will never go away unless he wins this World Cup.

This story is from the December 18, 2022 edition of Daily Star Sunday.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 18, 2022 edition of Daily Star Sunday.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.