The leader of the Argentine national team, Lionel Messi, said that he hopes that in the next World Cup in 2026 they will not face Mexico Mexico, responding to a question from TV Azteca commentators Christian Martinolli and Luis Garcia about Argentina's dominance over Mexico in the World Cup. In a conversation during a segment of Argentine goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman's podcast for Tigres UANL, the two commentators spoke directly with the international star, who emphasized his hope that Argentina doesn't face Mexico again. He also acknowledged that in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, they faced El Tri with fear of being eliminated from the tournament after their first defeat to Saudi Arabia. "I think we've crossed paths a lot in recent World Cups, but now a great opportunity is coming up for you, for the United States, and playing at home makes a difference, for better or for worse. It could be a great opportunity for Mexico, and well, hopefully we won't face each other in the next World Cup," Messi said on Guzman's show, "Miro de siempre" (I Look from Behind). Messi was also asked by Nahuel Guzman himself about Maxi Rodriguez's goal in 2006 that eliminated Mexico when it seemed the Mexican team could eliminate Argentina under Ricardo Antonio LaVolpe. "I was very young at that time and didn't realize many things; I experienced it differently. For me, it was all about enjoying myself, and at that moment the game was hard-fought. It's true they had the ball and were putting a lot of pressure on us." "Obviously, yes, it was a goal that gave us the qualification and it was spectacular, but throughout that entire World Cup, it was different for me. I was just a kid; all I wanted was to play, all I wanted was to get on the field. I suffered a lot after the elimination, as an Argentinian and like everyone else, when you're on the national team and I think we deserved more in terms of our performance, even against Germany."Messi responded that he played his first World Cup with Argentina in 2006.

Argentina played with fear against Mexico in Qatar 2022.

Lionel, referring to the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where one of his goals paved the way for a 2-0 victory over Mexico, acknowledged that before the match they were afraid against Mexico because they were on the verge of elimination after the defeat against Saudi Arabia.

“Against Mexico we were afraid, yes, of course, and we talked about it it within the group. We said that it was a match where we had a lot at stake, but at the same time we also had to look at everything we had done before, that we had gone 39 or 36 matches without losing and we had to win again if we lost, plus we would have been eliminated,” he explained.

Messi also recalled that incident on social media with Canelo Alvarez over the Mexico jersey lying on the ground where it appeared he was stepping on it: “That's where the Mexicans' animosity towards me started. It's a normal situation in any match, and I think the jersey I swapped was with Alvarado (Piojo), but it got blown out of proportion. “I took off my shirt, which was all sweaty, and left it on the ground, but it was blown out of proportion, which wasn't true.” To conclude, Messi said that the World Cups in which they have faced each other—Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, and Qatar 2022—have been complicated matches because Mexicans like to have possession of the ball, and he acknowledged that he has never had any problems with Mexicans.South Africa 2010 and Qatar 2022 have been complicated matches because Mexicans like to have the ball, and he acknowledged that he has never had problems with Mexicans.South Africa 2010 and Qatar 2022 have been complicated matches because Mexicans like to have the ball, and he acknowledged that he has never had problems with Mexicans.and left it on the ground, but it was blown out of proportion, which wasn't true.” To conclude, Messi said that the World Cups in which they have faced each other—Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, and Qatar 2022—have been complicated matches because Mexicans like to have possession of the ball, and he acknowledged that he has never had any problems with Mexicans.South Africa 2010 and Qatar 2022 have been complicated matches because Mexicans like to have the ball, and he acknowledged that he has never had problems with Mexicans.South Africa 2010 and Qatar 2022 have been complicated matches because Mexicans like to have the ball, and he acknowledged that he has never had problems with Mexicans.and left it on the ground, but it was blown out of proportion, which wasn't true.” To conclude, Messi said that the World Cups in which they have faced each other—Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, and Qatar 2022—have been complicated matches because Mexicans like to have possession of the ball, and he acknowledged that he has never had any problems with Mexicans.South Africa 2010 and Qatar 2022 have been complicated matches because Mexicans like to have the ball, and he acknowledged that he has never had problems with Mexicans.South Africa 2010 and Qatar 2022 have been complicated matches because Mexicans like to have the ball, and he acknowledged that he has never had problems with Mexicans.

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