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Former Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta reckons teammates will have to feed the ball to Lionel Messi in good areas for the legend to win games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The defending champions qualified for next year's showpiece event in the US, Canada and Mexico by topping the CONMEBOL qualifying standings as they look to become the first team since Brazil (1962) to go back-to-back at the World Cup.
However, with the talismanic Messi set to turn 39 during the event, he won't have the legs to drop deep and dribble past opponents like he used to during his heyday. Zabaleta pointed out how Messi's Inter Miami teammates do most of the heavy lifting to allow the Argentine to weave his magic in front of goal, telling The National:
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"I think if you watch (Inter Miami), it's a bit similar to what we can see in the national team. Messi surrounded by players that want to do well for Messi. They want to run as much as they can for Messi.
"And then he's the main man for those moments of magic or that creativity he brings into the team, that if you let Messi get the ball in the final third outside the box, he's still really good or good enough to dribble past two, three players and just put the ball in the top corner."
Zabaleta urged Argentina players to employ the same tactic to make the optimum use of Messi:
"We don't have the Messi of five years ago that maybe he can drop deep and get the ball, you know, on the halfway line and just run as before.
"But I think if the team manage to find a way to let Messi rest off the ball, but then when they get the ball back in possession, they can find him in a good position, he still can do the rest. He still has that quality to win games, to score goals. At the end of the day, that's all you need at the World Cup is to win games."
Messi had a solid qualifying campaign with the Albiceleste, contributing eight goals and three assists in 12 games.
How Lionel Messi fared for Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Lionel Messi had a memorable role in Argentina's victorious 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar. In the first-ever 'winter' World Cup, Messi scored in all but one game, playing every minute of all seven matches, including two extra times.
The record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner registered seven goals and three assists, finishing one behind Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe, netting twice in the final win over holders France on penalties.
In the process, Lionel Messi 'completed football', winning every major trophy on offer in club and international football, having won the Copa America with Argentina a year earlier.
