World Cup 2018: 5 bold predictions

Ecuador v Argentina - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifiers — How far will Messi go in the World Cup?

#3 Messi to retire from International football

Argentina v Chile: Championship - Copa America Centenario — Another disappointment could force Messi to retire from International football

After Argentina faced their third consecutive final defeat in the 2016 Copa America, Lionel Messi surprisingly announced his retirement from International football. However, a 'Don't Go, Leo' campaign from the fans saw him reversing the decision soon.

The 5 time Balon d'Or will be hoping to lead his team to glory this time around, but that dream could end in the group stages itself. And this might be the last nail in the coffin that forces Messi to finally quit.

30 is too early for a player of Messi's stature to retire, four consecutive setbacks might be too much even for the GOAT to take. World Cup disappointment could also see the end of Jorge Sampaoli's tenure at the club as manager.

About the author

Dakir is a European and Indian football journalist at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 10 years. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, and currently pursuing Master’s in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, he is a seasoned football journalist who has interviewed the likes of former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, covered the entire 2022-23 Indian Super League season of the Kerala Blasters, and has delivered a seminar at an international conference held by St. Albert's College, Ernakulam.

Thanks to his extensive academic background in journalism, Dakir understands the importance of accuracy and spends a significant amount of time researching the subject. In today’s data-driven world of football, where players are perceived as machines, he prides himself amplify the voices of the people that make football the beautiful game that it is.

He started following football in 2013, and more specifically, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, and admires Jurgen Klopp for his untouched charisma and unmatched legacy. A perpetual underdog supporter, he is a fan of under-fire Reds forward Darwin Nunez and can’t wait for him to show the world what he truly is. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s iconic “corner taken quickly” corner assist for Divock Origi in Liverpool’s 4-0 UCL semifinal win over Barcelona left a lasting impact on him.

When not writing, Dakir enjoys indulging in his guilty pleasure - watching mass commercial movies.

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Edited by Zeeshan Ali