Zabaleta: Messi has the 'magic' to win a second World Cup

Pablo Zabaleta said Lionel Messi has the magic to lead Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup after their 2022 triumph in Qatar. Zabaleta, who won 58 caps alongside Messi during a 10-year spell, noted the squad has kept its hunger and competitiveness, following up the World Cup with victory at the 2024 Copa America.

“Even after all the success, winning the World Cup and that period of winning 39 games... you can still see that the players have the hunger and the competitiveness to continue to do well for the national team,” he explained. To maximise his impact as he nears his late 30s, Argentina have adapted their strategy so Messi does less pressing and the team does the running for him.

Zabaleta compared that setup to his experience at Inter Miami: “If you see the MLS games these days, the players around Messi [at Inter Miami], I think it's a bit similar to what we have seen now in the national team,” he said. “You know, it is Messi surrounded by players that want to do well for Messi.

Argentina

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