Fansided

10 players with the most to prove

By Harvey Cruz

20180327 - Brussels, Belgium / International Friendly Game : Belgium v Saudi Arabia / "nEden HAZARD"nPicture by Vincent Van Doornick / Isosport
20180327 - Brussels, Belgium / International Friendly Game : Belgium v Saudi Arabia / "nEden HAZARD"nPicture by Vincent Van Doornick / Isosport /
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Haiti during their international friendly football match at Boca Juniors’ stadium La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, on May 29, 2018. (Photo by Eitan ABRAMOVICH / AFP) (Photo credit should read EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Haiti during their international friendly football match at Boca Juniors’ stadium La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, on May 29, 2018. (Photo by Eitan ABRAMOVICH / AFP) (Photo credit should read EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images) /

1. Lionel Messi

The World Cup final at the Maracana in 2014 should have been Lionel Messi’s crowning moment, his coronation as the greatest player of all time following a tournament in which he dragged a dysfunctional team to the final — just like Diego. It wasn’t to be, as Mario Gotze’s extra-time goal secured the trophy for Germany.

The heartbreaks kept coming, with Copa America final losses to Chile in 2015 and 2016. Messi missed a penalty in the shoutout in 2016, and subsequently retired, partly in response to Argentina’s mess of an FA. He came back in time to drag the albiceleste to Russia, but anything less than the trophy will be considered a disappointment.

Next: The best player on every team at the World Cup

He’s been dealt a difficult hand from the start, as he must overcome a fearsome group with Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria. And while he has some big-name teammates — Sergio Aguero, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain — none of them have delivered for their country. Jorge Sampaoli, like everyone else, knows his team’s fate depends on Messi.

Unlike 2014, Messi enters the tournament well rested. Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarters and had a big lead in the Liga title race, allowing Messi to cruise through the final month of the season. A win in Russia will allow Messi to escape Maradona’s shadow. A loss, and we may never see him on the international stage again. That’s pressure.