If you were to try and look for one blemish on the career of Lionel Messi, it will perhaps be the fact that he is yet to win the FIFA World Cup.
The 34-year-old has practically won everything there is to win in the game, however, it can be argued that he is still yet to win the greatest prize in the history of the sport.
Indeed, this year’s competition in Qatar later this winter could provide him with the perfect opportunity to add that accolade to his resume, and finally end Argentina’s long wait, with La Albiceleste having last won the competition back in 1986. Of course, they have come close in the past, having finished runners-up in 1990 and 2014, with the latter featuring Messi as the captain when Mario Gotze scored a late goal in extra time.
There is excitement amongst Argentinians as Lionel Messi bags five
However, there will be a lot of excitement about the country’s chances in the Middle East, especially as their magician does not appear to be showing any signs of slowing down whilst representing his country.
Although some were critical about his season with Paris Saint-Germain, he recently managed to score all five goals against Estonia and, in doing so, he became the first player to have a decisive contribution in 1100 goals – 769 scored and 331 assists.
So, is Argentina among the favorites to be winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup? Let’s take a look at the top five favorites and see where La Albiceleste ranks regarding the opinion of the sportsbooks.
Brazil has been made favorites to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Argentina’s biggest rival to have ever existed, Brazil, has been made the main favorite for this year’s biggest sporting event. According to the odds provided by Unibet, one of the best online sports betting in Canada platform, The Selecao has been priced at +500 to be crowned champions, and many believe that this year could finally be the team’s year after several disappointing efforts.
The last time they won the competition was back in 2002, therefore it has been a long two-decade wait, and one that many Brazilians have felt should have ended a lot sooner, especially as they hosted the 2014 edition of the tournament; one which provided horrible experiences for a variety of reasons.
France, England, & Spain are considered to be Europe’s best chance
The next three teams to have been ranked as the most likely to be able to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup are all from Europe, which perhaps highlights how the continent continues to dominate the sport.
France is the second favorite to win the event, as they have been priced at +550, whilst England (+650) and Spain (+800) each follow, although the odds do appear to start getting a little wider. This could be the fact that both teams are a little behind Brazil and France regarding the quality that they possess, or it could even be a case of being a little inexperienced.
Whilst England reached the finals of the 2020 UEFA European Championships, the team is relatively young, which is why there may be some that do not fancy them as much as Les Bleus.
Argentina ranked fifth
Despite Messi’s recent five-goal haul against Estonia in Nations League, Argentina has been priced at +900 to win the competition, which makes them fifth regarding their chances of becoming champions. They will perhaps feel confident that they can get through Group C as they will face Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland, although the game against the Latin American nation might be a problem.
The two teams have faced each other three times in the FIFA World Cup before, and whilst La Albiceleste has managed to win on each occasion, they have been pushed all the way. Lionel Messi will certainly need to be at his best to ensure they do not suffer defeat on this occasion.
Anyway, Argentina looked very good on the 1st of June – Messi, and co. defeated Italy 3-0 in the 2022 Finalissima (the third edition of the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions).
Who is most likely to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
Perhaps one of the best things about football is the fact that anything can happen over 90 minutes and that no game is easy to predict. However, if you were to try and pick out a winner, it might have to be Brazil or, why not, Portugal.
