Messi reveals his greatest “fears” before the 2022 World Cup
The PSG striker is confident that Dybala and Di Maria will recover in time to play in Qatar.
Leo Messi spoke to DIRECTV Sports and D-Sports Radio and in a conversation with Pablo Giralt and acknowledged the biggest “fear” he has ahead of the World Cup and is concerned that sustaining an injury would leave him out of the tournament in Qatar.
The Argentine and Paris Saint-Germain striker is recovering from an injury to the soleus of his right leg, which prevented him from playing the last two games for his team but the player is expected to reappear this Sunday against Marseille. With less than 40 days to go before the World Cup begins, the fear that an injury will prevent him from playing is ever-present on his mind.
“It is a different World Cup, as it is set to be played at a different time of year to the previous ones. We are so close that any little thing that can happen to you can leave you out. As you said, what happened to Paulo [Dybala], to Fideo [Di María], on a personal level already worries me, and then seeing those things scares you more” Messi added.
Despite this, the PSG star stated that it is best to act normally on the pitch, without thinking about the risks and possible consequences of an injury: “Going out to play thinking about getting a knock can be counterproductive. And the best thing is to act normally, as always. Playing is the best way to stay fit. I hope they recover. I think they have plenty of time to recover and be fine.”
Di María will be out for 20 days, with Juventus confirming his absence time but should be ready for the Qatar tournament but it seems that Dybala has it a little more complicated. The Roma player suffered an injury to his left rectus femoris and although his presence in the World Cup is not ruled out, his Argentina teammate Cuti Romero was pessimistic. “I think that Dybala will struggle to be totally fit for World Cup,” said the Tottenham central defender last Wednesday.