Messi to travel around the world in 2 weeks if Argentina makes the play-off

The Barca star has to travel more than 40,000 km within two weeks if he plays in the play-off match for a ticket to the 2018 World Cup against New Zealand.

Argentina are currently sixth in the South American qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup. If they do not make it into the top four, Messi and his teammates can only reach Russia next summer by climbing to fifth place, and competing for a play-off spot with New Zealand, the top team in the Oceania region.

The Spanish team will play the first and second legs in mid-November, in Wellington and Buenos Aires. It will be a big challenge for Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano, who are playing for Barca, as they have to travel a distance of more than 40,000km.

Messi having to travel a lot for the play-offs is the worst scenario for Barcelona.

Specifically, Messi will travel from Barcelona to Buenos Aires to join the team, before flying to New Zealand to play the first leg. Immediately after that, he and his teammates will return to Argentina, complete the second leg and return to Spain.

Each of the above routes is about 10,000 km long. If Messi completes his full duty, he will travel a distance equivalent to one round the world in just over 10 days.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) leadership plans to talk to the La Liga Organizing Committee, and propose that the match between Barca and Sevilla be held a day earlier, on November 4, instead of November 5, to give Messi and Mascherano more time to recover.

In the summer of 2013, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner traveled more than 120,000 km, the equivalent of three times around the world. Messi visited 14 different countries on four continents to do charity work, play friendly matches and attend events for sponsors Barca and the Argentine national team. He also fully participated in the Catalan team's pre-season preparations.

As a result, the Argentine superstar suffered thigh injuries in both legs before and after the start of the 2013-2014 season. At the end of 2013, Messi suffered a hamstring injury. His absence indirectly caused Barca to have a trophyless season.

According to VNE