Football
PA Sport 10y

Messi: Barca stars inspire WC dream

Lionel Messi is looking to his World Cup-winning Barcelona teammates for inspiration as he prepares for Argentina's semifinal clash against the Netherlands, and admits lifting the trophy in Brazil would be the greatest achievement of his glittering career.

The Albiceleste will make it through to their first World Cup final in 24 years if they beat the Oranje at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, and Messi is determined to add the ultimate prize in football to his bulging collection of prizes.

Four years ago, many of Messi's club teammates returned to Catalonia with World Cup winners' medals, and now he wants one of his own.

"As a player winning a World Cup is the best there is,'' the Argentina captain said in an adidas interview published on AS. "It's something you dream about when you are a kid and it never disappears.

"I have asked my Barcelona teammates Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta and [Gerard] Pique what it is like to lift the trophy, and they couldn't explain.

"We will do everything to make this dream a reality. To play a World Cup final with the great atmosphere of the Maracana is something what every player dreams of, but first we have to make sure we get there."

Argentina will, of course, be banking on their talisman to deliver that bit of magic to beat Louis van Gaal's side, who have been one of the toughest teams to beat at the World Cup.

Messi, who has scored four of Argentina's eight goals, could still end the tournament as top scorer -- and while he has been named the world's best player on four occasions, he says he is not concerned about individual accolades.

"I'd prefer the World Cup than the Golden Boot. Always," he continued. "I am only concentrating on the team. If we concentrate on our own game and we prepare ourselves tactically then our football will do the talking.

"If I keep scoring goals and that helps the team then that is the most important thing. It's a great honour to be captain of Argentina. I want to pay back the trust given in me leading [them] to the World Cup."

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has been boosted by the return of Sergio Aguero from a muscle injury for the semifinal, and while Angel Di Maria may be out injured, impressive full-back Marcos Rojo returns from suspension.

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