Lionel Messi reveals team he wants to avoid at World Cup

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 Argentina qualified for the tournament in Russia as they defeated Ecuador 3-1 in Quito and now the 30-year-old has picked out the side he does not want to face.

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.

Messi believes 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.”

Meanwhile, Messi revealed he still harbours hopes of one day playing for boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys.

The mercurial forward agreed a new four-year deal with Barca in the summer, but he is yet to officially sign the contract.

Despite that Barcelona CEO Oscar Grau said the club would offer Messi a lifetime contract last month, but as things stand Messi could talk to other interested clubs in January with his existing deal set to expire next summer.

Messi joined Barca as a 13-year-old and made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old and he has since gone on to become Barca’s record goal scorer with 523 goals and he has said he would like to return home before he hangs up his boots.

“The desire is always playing for Newell’s, it is what I dreamed as a kid,” added Messi.

“When I went to the club I imagined playing in the Primera Division, but I do not know what’s going to happen in a few years.

“I cannot say I’m going back because I do not know where I’m going to be.”