By Boluwatife Ezekiel Olaleye
Argentina superstar, Lionel Messi has named the country he would like to avoid in the group stage at next summer’s World Cup finals.
Messi scored a superb hat-trick last month to ensure the La Albiceleste qualified for the tournament in Russia as they defeated Ecuador 3-1 in Quito.
The 30-year-old has picked out the side he does not want to face.
According to him, Spain, Brazil, Germany and France are among the teams to beat.
“I wouldn’t like to be drawn against Spain, who are one of the rivals we could get in the draw,” Messi told Argentine channel TyC Sports.
“For all that they stand for, for all that they have, I’d rather avoid them. They’d be a very difficult rival.”
FIFA has confirmed the draw for the finals will take place in the Kremlin on Friday, December 1 with the 32 qualifiers split into four pots via the FIFA rankings.
The eight groups will then contain one team from each pot.