The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks-off in just over 24 hours’ time as the 32 participating nations have set their sights on the world title. The predictions and bets are in as well, with Spain manager Luis Enrique now revealing his favourites to go all the way in Qatar. Of course, the Spaniard will first and foremost try and steer his side to World Cup glory, but has backed another pre-tournament favourites to do so if the 2010 champions fall short of it.
The Spain manager wants his former player Lionel Messi to win the FIFA World Cup with his beloved country Argentina. The ‘La Pulga’ has been trying hard all his life to lead his nation to world cup glory, and also came close in Brazil in 2014, only to be defeated by Germany in the final. However, there’s some burden off his shoulders after winning a silverware with the La Albiceleste, lifting the Copa America last year. Now he has eyes on the biggest prize in the sport.
Luis Enrique rooting for former player’s win at 2022 FIFA World Cup
Luis Enrique had the pleasure to coach arguably the best player in the history of this sport in his time as the Barcelona manager from 2014 to 2017. Enrique won the treble of a Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey in his first season at Camp Nou, and enjoyed three trophy-laden years at the club, which was largely down to the otherworldly numbers Lionel Messi produced during that period.
Messi produced his second best goal and assists tally under a coach since Pep Guardiola during Luis Enrique’s spell. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner racked up a whopping 153 goals and 76 assists in 158 games under the now Spain manager at the Catalan club, also adding 9 trophies to his collection plus a Ballon d’Or and a UEFA Best Player award. Moreover, not only Messi, but Enrique accomplished the task of making an attack of Messi-Suarez-Neymar [MSN] fire on all cylinders. Talking about his admiration for Messi and how much he wants to see him lift the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Spain boss said:
“If we [Spain] don’t win, I would like Argentina to. It would be unfair for a player like Leo Messi to retire without winning one.”
Certainly both Argentina and Spain have got a brilliant chance of winning the coveted trophy, but by the looks of it, any footballing pundit or a fan would pick the La Albiceleste over the Spaniards. The two-time champions are in stellar form led by Leo, being on a 35-game unbeaten streak. Moreover, after they ended their country’s 28-year wait for a trophy at the 2021 Copa America, spirits have been uplifted in the Argentina camp.
Messi too has been in a scintillating form, having scored a brilliant 11 goals and provided 14 assists in 18 games in all competitions for his club PSG. The 35-year-old also warmed up well for the upcoming tournament in his nation’s 5-0 win over UAE in a pre-tournament friendly, scoring a goal as well as setting up one. Argentina kick-off their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia on November 22 in their Group C clash, where they will also come up against Poland and Mexico.