Juan Martin del Potro believes his countryman Lionel Messi is doing everything he can for the Argentinean national team and that the world of football “needs” too see him with the World Cup trophy.
The World Cup is a competition that has remained elusive for Messi, who is arguably the most talented footballer on the planet and has scooped up countless trophies on the club level with Barcelona.
“I think Argentina and everybody wants to see Messi with the World Cup, no?” Del Potro said on Sunday following his straight-sets win over Alex de Minaur in the Indian Wells second round.
“The soccer world needs Messi with that trophy. And, in my country, we have very high expectation in Russia. And I know the players feels that pressure, because I felt it when I was playing Davis Cup. It was similar.
“But Lio is a great guy and he deserves to win, but he’s doing more than he can for our country, and I’m very proud to have Messi with the Argentinian flags around the world, and hopefully Argentina can win the World Cup.”
La Albiceleste have not won the World Cup since 1986, and were runners-up in the most recent edition, losing the final to Germany in Brazil in 2014.
Argentina struggled during the qualifying campaign for Russia 2018 but have made it and headline Group D alongside Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria.
Del Potro next takes on David Ferrer in the third round in the California desert.
