Mauricio Pochettino has disputed the widespread belief that Lionel Messi is quiet and has hailed him as the “leader that Argentina need” ahead of the World Cup final.
The 35-year-old has a golden chance to win the tournament for the first time in his career, with the South American side set to take on reigning champions France at Lusail Stadium on Sunday. Messi has been one of the standout players at the tournament, chipping in with five goals and three assists.
Throughout his career, the forward has been perceived as somewhat of a quiet presence for club and country, but Pochettino is insistent that is not the case. The former Tottenham boss managed Messi during his stint with Paris Saint-Germain.
Writing in a column for The Athletic, the Argentine said: “Messi is now the leader that Argentina need, and for me, that is a massive step for him. It’s not just the performances, which are what we expect. People think he is quiet, but sometimes what you perceive from the outside is wrong. He has a very strong character.
“He doesn’t talk too much, but he talks when he needs to. Maybe we see him talking more now because of the cameras and the technology. We are seeing the real Messi. He was always like this. People like to talk in myths and we all know there are a lot of those in football.
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“Right now, Messi is performing at his best in every single area, and when you have that on your side, only good things can happen.”
Messi, 35, found himself on the losing side in his last appearance in a World Cup final, when Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Germany in 2014. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner finally has the chance to add a World Cup winners’ medal to his glittering trophy cabinet.
Having amassed 171 appearances for his nation since his debut in 2005, Messi has admitted that his appearance in the World Cup final will be his last for La Albiceleste. As quoted by Argentine newspaper Ole, he said: “[I am] Very happy to be able to achieve this [another World Cup final].
“Ending my World Cup journey by playing my last match in a final. Everything I experienced in this World Cup is something very exciting, what people experienced, how people in Argentina are enjoying it.”
Asked whether Sunday’s final could be his final appearance at a World Cup, he said: “Yes, surely yes. There are many years for the next one and I don't think it will give me. And ending like this is the best.”
Messi has managed to get on the scoresheet in every game but one in Qatar. His standout performance arguably came in his most recent outing, where he notched a goal and an assist in Argentina’s victory against Croatia in the semi-finals.
