Wednesday’s World Cup match pits two of the most terrifying strikers in the game—35-year-old Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Poland’s 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski—against one another.
Argentina has had an incredible start to the tournament, with Messi scoring twice. Argentina suffered one of the biggest upsets in tournament history at the hands of Saudi Arabia before Messi oversaw a jubilant triumph over Mexico.
The brilliant Argentine, whose team are one of the tournament favourites, is playing his fifth and final campaign, meaning it is his last chance to match Diego Maradona and lift the trophy for his longing homeland.
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“We had to give everyone peace of mind to be able to approach the Poland game in a different way,” Messi said after the extraordinary pressure around the Mexico match.
With Argentina second in Group C on three points, one behind the Poles, they must win to be sure of progressing and keeping alive their dream of a third World Cup title.
A draw would be enough for the South Americans too if Mexico and Saudi Arabia also end level.
‘Emotional’ Lewandowski
Like Messi, Lewandowski is also his nation’s all-time top scorer and is on possibly his last mission at a World Cup. He has been in sizzling form for Messi’s old club Barcelona and has also had an eventful start in Qatar.
Lewandowski uncharacteristically missed a penalty in Poland’s opening draw with Mexico before scoring his first ever World Cup goal in their 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia.
That reduced him to tears.
“The older I get, the more emotional I get, and I’m aware that it might be my last World Cup actually,” said Lewandowski
Poland, who have not reached the knockout stage since 1986, will go through with a win or draw against Argentina.
