Messi: 'Hopefully football will pay me back for the World Cup'

The Argentine star said he will never forget the defeat in the 2014 World Cup final.

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli once said that football owes Lionel Messi a World Cup title. In a recent interview with FIFA, the Barca striker was asked about this statement. He laughed and replied: "I hope football will repay me that debt. I heard what Jorge Sampaoli said. He told me that directly."

Messi has not won a title with the Argentina team.

Messi was once again Argentina's hero, scoring a hat-trick in the final South American qualifier against Ecuador to send his team to Russia. Four years ago, in Brazil, Messi was the centre of attention as he led Argentina to the final, but eventually fell to Germany.

That defeat is still in Messi's mind, and he doesn't think it will ever go away. "No, I don't think that wound will ever heal. I think I'll have to live with what I went through. That memory will always be there. The World Cup gave me beautiful memories but also pain," he said.

Despite struggling to qualify, Messi believes Argentina is still a strong team that can challenge any opponent at next year's football festival. "After the match against Ecuador, everyone in the team felt differently. Argentina left all the fear and tension in that match. That made the atmosphere in the team much better," Messi expressed.

Chile will miss out on the 2018 World Cup despite winning the last two Copa Americas and being one of the strongest teams in South America. Messi said he was surprised to hear this. "I was as shocked as everyone else when I heard this because they won the last two Copa Americas. They are a strong team with many great players. Honestly, this shows how difficult the South American qualifying is," said the Barca striker.

According to VNE