Argentina captain Lionel Messi expressed his emotions and shared insights about his physical condition during a press conference ahead of the World Cup. Following a friendly match against Iceland, the star forward revealed that he has been grappling with significant psychological pressure due to a recent injury, which has hindered his ability to concentrate fully on football.
Messi highlighted the importance of participating in the match as a means to confront his mental barrier and restore his self-confidence. He stated that competing was essential for him to move past his anxieties about his injury.
“Today I really wanted to play, because I needed to get rid of that fear related to the injury. I want to finally stop thinking about it and obsessing over my health issues. We still have a whole week left to finish our preparations and, thank God, today I felt great,” Messi said candidly.
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In the upcoming World Cup, Argentina is set to compete against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan in the group stage. Meanwhile, Atletico striker Julian Alvarez has paused discussions with Barcelona to concentrate on his role in representing Argentina at the tournament.