Argentina fans in Qatar give Messi noisy backing

08.11.2022 - 02:47 arabnews.com

DOHA: An advanced guard of Argentina football fans chanted their certainty that Lionel Messi’s last World Cup will end in success Monday ahead of the Latin American side becoming the first to set up their base camp in Qatar.

Scores of fans gathered at the World Cup countdown clock on Doha’s seafront chanting Messi’s name and waving flags, 13 days before the tournament starts, as bemused police watched the mounting football fever in the Gulf state.

Many went to the clock to welcome Matias Villarroel, Silvio Gatti, Leandro Blanco and Lucas Ledezma who cycled 10,500 kilometers (6,500 miles) across Africa to reach Doha on Monday.

But Messi was on the minds of the riders and the other fans. “The dream behind cycling this whole route is that Argentina will win the World Cup and that Leo will lift the trophy on December 18,” said Blanco.

Champions League Lionel Messi Jurgen Klopp Carlo Ancelotti Britain Qatar Usa Argentina Doha county Gulf Liverpool

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LUSAIL, Qatar: Lionel Messi thumped in a 64th minute goal and Enzo Fernandez added another late in the game to give Argentina a 2-0 victory over battling Mexico in their World Cup Group C match on Saturday and reignite their tournament hopes.Messi, who equalled Diego Maradona’s Argentina record of 21 matches and eight goals at the World Cup, was nowhere to be seen for more than an hour before picking up an Angel Di Maria pass, finding just enough space and rifling in from 20 meters.Substitute Fernandez made sure of the three points when he curled a superb shot into the top corner in the 87th minute.The result restored order for the Argentines in Group C after their shock opening 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia.Argentina, on three points, can guarantee progress with a win over Poland, top on four, in their final game on Wednesday.“Today starts another World Cup for Argentina,” Messi said.