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Lionel Messi has dominated world football for over the last decade, mesmerizing fans around the globe with his breathtaking displays on a consistent basis.
The Barcelona icon has enjoyed unprecedented success over the years with his club, winning 34 titles with the Blaugrana which includes 4 Champions League trophies and 10 league titles among other accolades.
On an individual level, Messi is in a league of his own. Owing to his exploits over the years, the Argentine maestro has won five Ballon d'Or awards, six European Golden Shoes, six Pichichis, as well as other individual accolades.
Despite establishing himself as one of the greatest of all time with Barcelona, Messi is yet to replicate his success with his National team. The 31-year-old has constantly met with disappointments in tournaments with his country - the latest of them being in the 2018 World Cup.
Once again, Messi will get the chance to prove his critics wrong and win a major trophy with Argentina. After losing in the finals of the tournament in 2015 and 2016, the Argentine is set to captain the Albiceleste in the Copa America this year which begins on 15th June.
Without further ado, let us take a look at three reasons why Messi can end his trophy drought with Argentina.
#3 Less negativity
The current Albiceleste squad is filled with more youth players, who will be under less pressure. Most of the players who suffered final exits in the previous Copa America tournaments and in the 2014 World Cup are not currently in the squad, which is why the baggage is also low this time around.
Defenders like Funes Mori, Acuna and Saravia are set to feature whereas the likes of Paredes and Lo Celso can provide the much needed raw injection of pace and energy in this team.
The absence of Gonzalo Higuain and Mascherano will surely have an impact but the negativity among the new generation players will be less. Moreover, the absence of someone like Mauro Icardi will have a positive effect in the dressing room for Messi and co. too.
#2 Less Pressure
It goes without saying that any team with a player of Messi's caliber in the squad will automatically become a force to reckon with in a tournament. But after enduring consistent failures, Messi himself admitted that they are not the favourites to win the title.
Speaking in a recent interview with TyC Sports, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said:
“We are not candidates like other times,”
“We will go with the same dreams and excitement as always, but the reality is that Argentina is going through a process of change.”
It is crystal clear that the expectations is less with the current Albiceleste squad. The silver lining is that the pressure will be less due to the lowered expectations.
The Argentine players have failed to perform in critical moments in the past but they will have the chance to perform without the pressure of being the favourites, which in turn, might enhance their performances.
#1 Lionel Messi's form at the moment
While Messi has struggled to leave his mark in the 2018 World Cup with Argentina, he was almost unstoppable with Barcelona in the recently concluded campaign. Messi will turn 32 in the coming weeks but he is showing no signs of slowing down.
The five time Ballon d'Or winner ended the 2018/19 campaign with 51 goals and 22 assists in all competitions. Messi's incredible form in the league saw him winning the European Golden Shoe and Pichichi award with 36 goals. The Argentine wizard also ended as the top scorer of the Champions League with 12 goals.
Messi kept terrorizing opponent's rearguard with relative ease - scoring and creating chances at will. The Blaugrana talisman was leading the Catalan giants on their way to another treble but they ended their season with only the La Liga title after shocking defeats against Liverpool and Valencia in the Champions League and Copa Del Rey respectively.
Despite Barcelona's struggles in cup competitions, Messi was a class apart and he showed that he is miles ahead of any of his rivals. It remains to be seen whether he can put a similar show with his National team this time around in the Copa America.
