World Cup 2018: 5 players who make the difference for Argentina

#1 Lionel Messi

Can he do it?

The little man had to be number one, right? The only reason 23 men from Argentine are traveling to Russia, representing their nation on the global stage is La Pulga. An extraterrestrial show of determination from the Argentine in the last match of the tense South American qualification campaign drove the country to automatic qualification spot.

Locals define the match as a resurrection for the national team. Messi defied all odds by scoring a hat-trick against Ecuador in the last match and would be required to defy a few more to clinch the Jules Rimet trophy in Moscow.

Having lost three finals in a row, and four in total with Argentina, Messi decided to hang up his boots and retire from International duty but overwhelming support from the Argentine people made him reconsider his decision. Russia would surely by Messi's last chance to win the World Cup, and reach the higher echelons in the hearts of the people of his country.

Highly compared to El Diego, Messi must arrive in Russia at the peak of his career to match the man his country loves so much that they don't care about Leo's achievements. All Argentina desires is a World Cup, and Messi is the only real hope they have.