Messi: ‘Argentina is playing almost like Barca at its peak’

36-year-old striker Lionel Messi believes that Barca was once the strongest team in history, and Argentina is currently not much lower than that level.

“Argentina is improving every day, getting stronger with every match,” Messi said after scoring a double against Peru. “We are the reigning champions of South America and the world, with a squad that doesn’t matter which player starts. Because we have an established style of play, and will continue to follow that path.” .

Messi holds the ball in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Peru at the National Stadium in Lima, Peru, evening of October 17, 2023. Photo: AFP

Messi also believes that Argentina is close to Barca’s peak level, with three Champions League titles in the 2009-2015 period, making them the strongest team in history. He was also Barca’s brightest star at that time, with five Golden Balls. At the age of 36, Messi is still Argentina’s star, helping the team win 13 consecutive matches and winning all three recent tournaments they attended.

“Argentina has come very close to what Barca showed at its peak,” he added.

In the Argentine newspaper Ole , 49% of readers agreed with Messi’s comments, 20% thought that the level between the two teams was still far away, and the remaining 31% rated Argentina as even stronger than Barca in the past.

Messi has scored in all nine of his most recent starts for Argentina, even though he said he would retire from his international career after the 2022 World Cup. But he will likely continue to attend the 2024 Copa America, or even the 2026 World Cup. with current form. “A new cycle has begun for Argentina, and we have to start over,” he commented. “As the defending champion, every match will be more difficult for Argentina. The whole team has young players who have won every title, but still maintain their desire.”

Messi also feels sorry for not being able to contribute much to Inter Miami in the past few matches, causing the team to have no chance of entering the play-off round of the American MLS professional tournament. However, he is determined to prepare better for the 2024 tournament, when the team has won a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup (North Central American Cup C1).

Argentina is currently at the top of the World Cup qualifiers for South America, but they have two difficult matches ahead against visiting team Uruguay on November 17, and host Brazil on November 22. Messi said he will try to show his best performance in these two matches, then will rest in December.