{"id":3158,"date":"2022-11-30T07:34:04","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T07:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/world-cup-2022-why-lionel-messi-is-argentinas-true-leader-now-pablo-zabaleta\/"},"modified":"2022-11-30T07:34:05","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T07:34:05","slug":"world-cup-2022-why-lionel-messi-is-argentinas-true-leader-now-pablo-zabaleta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/world-cup-2022-why-lionel-messi-is-argentinas-true-leader-now-pablo-zabaleta\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup 2022: Why Lionel Messi is Argentina\u2019s ‘true leader’ now – Pablo Zabaleta"},"content":{"rendered":"


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<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<\/thead>\n\n\n
Host nation:<\/strong> Qatar <\/span>Dates: <\/strong>20 November-18 December <\/span>Coverage: <\/strong>Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. <\/span>Day-by-day TV listings<\/span><\/a> – <\/span>Full coverage details<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Nothing is done for Argentina or Lionel Messi yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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You all saw the tension and anxiety we suffered during our game against Mexico until we scored, and also the relief at the final whistle after our 2-0 victory.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

There was so much pressure on us after <\/span>we lost to Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/a> and that relief was for everyone – for the whole team and all our fans here, but especially for Messi. <\/span><\/p>\n

It would have been a terrible and painful end to see <\/span>Argentina<\/span><\/a> eliminated in the group stage in what is probably his last World Cup.<\/span><\/p>\n

We are not in the last 16 yet, though. Now we have to win again – this time against <\/span>Poland<\/span><\/a> – to be sure we make it.<\/span><\/p>\n

It won’t be easy, and the team still needs to improve a lot, but hopefully we have some confidence after <\/span>beating Mexico.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

And we always have Messi, of course. We have relied on him so many times in the past, and we know we can rely on him again in Qatar.<\/span><\/p>\n

It will hard for us to go far in this tournament, we know that. But at least we can dream about this Argentina team again – and that is because of him.<\/span><\/p>\n