Argentina national team captain Lionel Messi has picked out Brazil and France as the teams to beat at the upcoming World Cup finals in Qatar. The 35-year-old PSG forward, who is appearing in his last World Cup, believes these two footballing behemoths are leading the chase to win the coveted tournament, which starts on November 20th.

Anyone looking to take advantage of Messi’s picks would do well to check out the best World Cup betting sites in order to find the most competitive odds on both the Brazilian and French national teams. 

Messi was asked to comment on who to watch out for in Qatar and went on to expand on his predictions;

“We always say the same great teams … but, if I have to choose, Brazil and France are the two great candidates to win the World Cup,” 

“They’ve had the same group [of players] for a long time, working well. France, aside from the last Euros when they were eliminated [in the last 16] and did badly, they have some impressive players.”

“They have a clear idea and the same coach [Didier Deschamps]. Brazil is a bit the same [under Tite].” Messi added.

Perhaps due to not wanting to jinx his own chances, Messi didn’t reference Argentina, and team coach Lionel Scaloni has commented on how fixture chaos, with European leagues in full flow, may impact on squad selection;

“We are in quite a difficult stage. The players are playing a lot of games,” 

“There can be problems as there are injuries [and] suspensions. It’s part of being an elite player and a national team player.”

“I worry, but there is little you can do. I believe that the player has to go out on the pitch to play and not think about what’s coming — it can be detrimental. Let them play naturally.”

In another interview, Messi was more forthcoming and detailed about what he feels Argentina need to do in order to get up and running in the right manner.

“In the first minutes of the first game, the nerves and anxiety are difficult to control. I think the first game is very important because starting with a win gives you peace of mind,” 

“Last World Cup, we started with a draw, and I’ve always said that if I had scored the penalty and we had won it, we would have changed the whole story.”

Argentina opens their World Cup campaign with a relatively straightforward clash with Saudi Arabia on the 22nd of November. 

“The World Cup is very difficult; many things have to happen (to win it), not only that we are doing well, many things that can leave you out, and there are many teams that want the same as us and that are doing well.”

“We are eager; we are going to fight, we are not afraid of anyone because we are ready to play against anyone, but with peace of mind,” Messi added.

Argentina is well placed when it comes to the World Cup betting odds, with most bookmakers placing them behind Brazil and France in the rankings. With Spain close behind.

This will be Messi’s fifth World Cup finals, and he’ll hope to go out with a bang as Argentina look to secure their first triumph in the competition since 1986. Messi was instrumental in helping his country to the final in 2014, where they lost in extra time to Germany. 

The former Barcelona man holds the national team record for most caps, 164. and goals, 90, and the only accolade missing from Messi’s collection is a World Cup winner’s medal.