7 bold predictions ahead of the 2014 Brazil World Cup

2) Lionel Messi to finally deliver on the big stage

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has always delivered at club level in a big way. A staggering 327 goals in 394 appearances for Barcelona (including 147 goals in just 125 appearances over the last five seasons), accompanied by virtuoso performances have led to Messi being recognised as the undisputed best player in the World for the past 4 or 5 years now. Whilst for most his record of 37 goals in 83 appearances for his nation would be admirable, Messi has never been quite able to reproduce his scary club form for “Les Albicelestes”, and more specifically- never at a World Cup.

Theories as to why this is vary massively, however with Messi coming to the theoretical peak of his powers at the age of 26, I expect this to be the tournament that Messi firmly establishes himself as a legend of the game- on the international stage. Nothing needs to be said of his credentials as a player, and his ability is undoubted. I fancy him to finally take a World Cup by the scruff of its neck at the third attempt and really set out to upset Argentina’s Brazilian neighbours in the summer.