Argentina icon Lionel Messi believes England are one of the favourites to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. But Gareth Southgate’s side are not the PSG star’s pick to lift the title.
Instead, the forward feels France and Brazil will head to the Middle East for the first winter World Cup destined to challenge for global glory. Les Bleus travel to Qatar trying to defend their title from Russia 2018. While the Selecao will land as FIFA’s number-one ranked side.
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Brazil are also the most successful nation at the World Cup but have not won the title since 2002. The Selecao swept a fifth crown to date in Japan and South Korea before Italy, Spain, Germany and France raised the gong. Italy and Germany’s titles moved them to four each.
Germany could now move level with Brazil as the most successful nation at the World Cup at Qatar 2022. But Italy will watch the tournament from home as the Euro 2020 champions failed to qualify. The Azzurri lost to North Macedonia during the UEFA play-off semi-finals.
Lionel Messi backs England for the Qatar World Cup but favours France or Brazil
Messi will hope that Qatar 2022 finally marks the tournament where he and Argentina win the World Cup. The legendary forward has confirmed that this year’s edition will be his last trip to the FIFA tournament. He has featured at four editions and reached the final in 2014.
But Messi has not included Argentina among his five favourites to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Instead, the 35-year-old has told Argentine channel Direct TV that he sees Brazil as the only non-European nation that can consider themselves a favourite for global glory.
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Brazil are also one of Messi’s absolute favourites for the World Cup but he deems England a threat across Qatar 2022. The Three Lions have not won the FIFA tournament since 1966.
“The big teams, Brazil, Germany, France, England, Spain, and I’m sure I’m forgetting some of them,” Messi said, via quotes by RMC Sport. “But if I have to keep one or two, today, I believe that Brazil and France are the two big candidates for this World Cup.
“They have had the same group for a long time. France, beyond the last Euro where it went badly, they have impressive players [and] the same coach for a long time. Brazil, too. Today, I think they are the two favourites, even if all the big teams are candidates.”
Argentina are currently on a 35-game unbeaten run dating back to the 2019 Copa America semi-finals. Brazil won the tie 2-0, but La Albiceleste took revenge in 2021 to win the next edition. With Messi as their captain, Argentina beat the Selecao 1-0 through Angel di Maria.
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