Sergio Aguero might not be playing a role for Argentina on the pitch, but the Manchester City legend will play his part off it ahead of the World Cup final.
That's because after years of rooming together on international duty, Aguero reportedly reunited with Lionel Messi at Argentina's team hotel following their comprehensive 3-0 win against Croatia. The ex-City striker, who made the difficult decision to hang up his boots aged 33 in December 2021 due to a heart condition, had presented Messi with the Player of the Match award after his semi-final heroics on Tuesday - richly deserved given his well-taken penalty and magnificent assist.
Although the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner won't be able to count on Aguero as his strike partner against reigning champions France this Sunday, he'll at least be able to some spend quality time with his old pal in the build-up. Argentine outlet TYC Sports claim that Messi has now been joined by his former teammate at the Albiceleste's base in Doha immediately.
That's along with three more players, invited by the Argentine FA, who've missed out on their run to the final; Nicolas Gonzalez, Joaquin Correa and Giovani Lo Celso. Aguero has even been training with Lionel Scaloni 's side and scored a 'great goal' on Thursday.
His arrival is made even more significant given how Messi had opted to room alone ahead of the tournament. Having last been paired up on international duty for Argentina's victorious Copa America campaign 18 months ago, the 35-year-old has spent each night in Qatar in total solitude.
Emiliano Martinez was mooted to be Messi's new roommate, but the Aston Villa goalkeeper is said to be staying with a member of Argentina's coaching staff instead. That's because Messi wanted to be able to concentrate as best he could on the task at hand, and for now it certainly seems the right decision.
With five goals and four assists, the Paris Saint-Germain forward has grabbed the tournament by the scruff of the neck and at times dragged his nation through the tournament. Messi will now take part in his second World Cup final, following 2014's extra-time heartbreak against Germany, and he's desperate for glory this time.
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"The important thing is to be able to achieve the group objective, which is the most beautiful of all," the ex- Barcelona No.10 declared after beating Croatia in comfortable fashion. "We are one step away after fighting a lot and we are going to try to give our best as up to now, to try to make it happen this time."
After confirming that Sunday's final would "surely" be his last World Cup match, Messi added: "Everything I experienced in this World Cup is something very exciting, what people lived through, how people are enjoying it in Argentina... There are many years for the next one and I don't think I will be able to do that and ending this way is the best."
