A handout picture released by Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy on December 13, 2016 shows Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (C-L) holding six-year-old Afghan boy Murtaza Ahmadi (C-R) in Doha, upon the team’s arrival to play a friendly match against Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli. An Afghan boy who became an internet sensation after pictures of him wearing an improvised Lionel Messi football shirt went viral finally got to meet his superstar idol. / AFP
New Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli says getting the best out of Lionel Messi and reaching the 2018 World Cup are his greatest challenges in the role.
Sampaoli, 57, has taken over as coach of his home country after leaving Spanish club Sevilla after one season.
Barcelona forward Messi, 29, announced his retirement from international football in June 2016 before reversing his decision two months later.
“I spoke with Leo and we’re both excited,” said Sampaoli.
“It’s a boost for us to see how excited he is with this new stage [for Argentina].”
Messi has scored 58 goals in 117 appearances for Argentina yet the 1978 and 1986 world champions currently sit outside an automatic qualifying spot for next year’s World Cup in Russia after six wins in 14 qualifying games.
Their last four qualifiers are against Uruguay (away) on 31 August, Venezuela (home) on 5 September, Peru (home) on 5 October and Ecuador (away) on 10 October.
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