The curse awaits Messi and Argentina.

Argentina enters the 2026 World Cup as the reigning world champions after an emotional journey in Qatar four years prior. However, that status is both a source of pride and pressure.

Since Brazil successfully defended their title in 1962, no team has repeated that feat. Even Brazil couldn't break their own curse, losing in the 1998 World Cup final. Argentina also suffered a defeat in the 1990 World Cup final while being the defending champions.

An easy group could help Argentina avoid the group stage curse.

The World Cup, like the Champions League, always has its peculiar rules. One of them is the immense pressure on the defending champion. The Champions League has seen exceptions like Real Madrid, but the World Cup does not.

Even in the 21st century, things have become even harsher. Many champions not only fail to defend their title but also collapse in the group stage.

France, after winning the 1998 World Cup, were eliminated early in the 2002 tournament. Italy, who won in 2006, were knocked out in the group stage in 2010. Spain in 2014 and Germany in 2018 also became subsequent victims.

Argentina certainly understands the weight of that history. However, this year's draw is relatively easy for the South American team. Austria is a well-organized team but hasn't reached the level of a major force. Algeria is always a difficult opponent thanks to their physical strength and speed, but is still considered the underdog. Jordan is the weakest team in the group.

The chances of Argentina being eliminated early are therefore not high. However, getting past the group stage has never been the goal of the world champions. The real issue lies in the later stages.

The big contenders are entering the World Cup with many positive signs. France continues to maintain formidable stability with a strong squad depth. Spain has just undergone a successful rejuvenation process and is riding the momentum from their Euro 2024 victory.

While their rivals are constantly making changes, Argentina hasn't had many standout new players. Their stability helps them maintain cohesion, but it also raises concerns that the team is gradually lacking freshness.

Even Lionel Messi has admitted that Argentina is no longer the top contender for the title. This may be a familiar display of humility, but it also reflects the reality that the South American team is well aware of the challenges ahead.

Messi admitted that defending the World Cup trophy is extremely difficult.

Is Messi still a magician at 38?

For many years, Messi has been at the center of every story related to Argentina. He is the captain, the soul of their playing style, and the greatest icon of the country's football. The 2022 World Cup saw Messi create one of the most memorable journeys in history, leading Argentina to victory.

But time is something no one can defeat. The 2026 World Cup will take place when Messi is 38 years old and will turn 39 in mid-June. Although he still possesses exceptional technique, vision, and the ability to create breakthroughs, he can no longer maintain the same intensity of activity as before.

Another issue that Argentina has to consider is that Messi has been away from top-level European football for quite some time. The MLS clearly has a different pace and level of competition compared to major European leagues. Playing in a less stressful environment could affect his form when entering matches that demand extremely high intensity.

This presents coach Lionel Scaloni with a difficult dilemma. He can continue building the team around Messi, as he did at the 2022 World Cup. But relying too heavily on the number 10 risks Argentina losing its balance.

Conversely, if they drastically reduce Messi's role, they might lose their most special weapon. Perhaps a more sensible solution is to make Messi a strategic factor rather than the absolute center of every situation.

The 2026 World Cup may not be decided by how many goals Messi scores. More importantly, it will depend on how Argentina utilizes the greatest player in its history. Because sometimes, to defend a peak, the hardest thing isn't continuing down the same path, but knowing when to make the right changes.

Source: https://znews.vn/loi-nguyen-cho-messi-va-argentina-post1653015.html