In an interview with Spanish newspaper AS, Veron warned that Argentina needs to be more cautious about how Messi is used in the upcoming tournament. "We have to be careful with Messi and this World Cup," the 51-year-old former midfielder stated. "If we think Messi can play every match from start to finish, I'm not sure that will happen."

The former midfielder, who played for Man Utd, Chelsea, and Inter Milan, believes Argentina must build a better support system for their captain, rather than continuing to place the entire burden on him as in previous years. "I think we have to help Messi, and he also needs to allow himself to be helped. That part is not easy either," Veron added.

Argentina forward Lionel Messi (left) shows frustration after missing a scoring opportunity alongside midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron during their 3-1 victory over Mexico in the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa on 27/6/2010. Photo: AFP

Heading into the 2026 World Cup, Messi remains central to coach Lionel Scaloni's tactical system. However, his age and recent fitness issues have led many former Argentine legends to express concern about the Inter Miami superstar's ability to play continuously.

Messi enters the tournament after recovering from an injury while playing for Inter Miami. Although he is fit enough to play, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is approaching his 39th birthday and will likely find it difficult to maintain the same intensity he displayed when leading Argentina to victory in Qatar four years ago.

At the 2022 World Cup, Messi was the soul of Argentina's championship run, scoring seven goals, providing three assists, and contributing to most crucial moments. However, Veron believes expecting a similar scenario is unrealistic. Instead, he suggests that other stars need to share the professional responsibility with the captain.

The first player Veron mentioned is Julian Alvarez. The forward is highly regarded for his wide movement, continuous pressure on opposing defenses, and ability to create space for teammates. He played a significant role in the 2022 World Cup with four goals and can considerably reduce the offensive workload on Messi.

Additionally, Veron places high hopes on Enzo Fernandez. The Chelsea central midfielder is considered the brain of Argentina's midfield due to his ability to control tempo, initiate attacks, and support defensively. According to Veron, Enzo is entering the prime of his career and is capable of becoming a team leader.

Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi (number 19) celebrates with Julian Alvarez after scoring the team's third goal from a penalty kick during a friendly match against Zambia at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires on 31/3. Photo: AFP

The other name is Lautaro Martinez. After years of consistent performance at both club and national team levels, the Inter Milan forward is expected to shoulder the goal-scoring responsibility, rather than Messi continuing to be the primary source of goals.

Veron also praised Argentina's emerging young talents, such as Nico Paz and the 1,9-meter-tall forward Jose Manuel Lopez. He believes squad depth will be crucial in a long tournament with a dense match schedule like the World Cup.

Beyond discussing Messi, Veron also compared the current national team to the Argentina generation that competed in the 2002 World Cup, where he was one of the leaders. That Argentina team was highly rated but was unexpectedly eliminated in the group stage.

According to Veron, the biggest difference lies in the psychological state. "If you look at the current national team, they approach the World Cup differently than we did in 2002," he observed. "They carry the weight of having just won the Copa America and the World Cup. But this team has overcome that pressure and arrived at the right moment."

He believes Lionel Scaloni's squad possesses an advantage that the 2002 generation lacked: the experience of winning major tournaments. After their Copa America 2021 and World Cup 2022 victories, Argentina is no longer haunted by the pressure to end a decades-long title drought. This confidence, Veron asserts, makes Argentina a contender for the 2026 World Cup, even if Messi is no longer at his peak performance.

Hoang An (according to Diario AS)