The Argentina national team had multiple players up their game over the course of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, including Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez.
Fernandez earned the first start of his run with La Albiceleste in its World Cup group stage encounter against Poland — and he did not look back from there. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni penciled in Fernandez to start in each of the side’s remaining matches at the tournament. On the other hand, Alvarez shined over the tournament with four goals scored.
During an interview with the Argentine-based outlet Ole, Messi downplayed the notion that he single-handedly carried Argentina at the World Cup, as he took some time to laud multiple players who rose to the occasion for the team.
“There is no need for me to say it, I have said more than once that without a team nobody wins anything alone,” Messi said. “… The 11, the 23 who played, always had an incredible performance, even players who had not had the opportunity and who had to play and be in the team for different reasons, and they performed as nobody expected.
“The cases of Enzo (Fernández), Alexis (Mac Allister), Julián (Álvarez), players who had not been playing and were fundamental. … As I said at the beginning, Argentina’s team won this World Cup and not because of me.”
Fernandez and Alvarez are expected to tag along with Messi in Argentina’s international schedule in March.
