With just under two months before the 2022 FIFA World Cup gets underway, Argentina superstar Lionel Messi has revealed a nation he is concerned about facing at the grand showpiece.
Argentina are considered to be one of the favourites to win the tournament in Qatar, having been unbeaten in 34 matches heading into their friendly against Jamaica in New Jersey on Wednesday morning.
Since their last defeat, the South America giants have also gone on to win the 2021 Copa America, which was Messi's first major international trophy.
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For the World Cup, the Albiceleste have been placed in Group C alongside Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland.
While their opener against the Middle Eastern minnows seems a straight-forward affair, the 35-year-old captain has revealed he is wary of the threat the CONCACAF outfit poses to his side.
"It is very important to start with a win. Then comes Mexico, a great rival that plays soccer very well," Messi said during an interview for TUDN.
"We have already faced them several times in World Cups and we know that they play very well, but we don't think more than that, we have to go game by game.
"I think we have put together a nice team, very strong, and we know how to play every game. The biggest difference is having the luck to win the Copa América.
"The World Cup, it is very difficult, the small teams can leave you out of the tournament, but this team is here to compete and beat anyone."
Mexico and Argentina have faced each other in the competition three times, with the latter emerging victorious from all three ties.
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Their latest meeting came in the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where a brace by Carlos Tevez and a strike by Gonzalo Higuain ensured a 3-1 victory for the Argentines, while Javier Hernandez scored the only goal for the Mexicans.
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