Aguero: 'Argentina only needs Messi to reach 60% of form'

Aguero noticed that Argentina recently played with a different style than before, when they kept the ball a lot but did not attack. "Argentina is more dangerous now, doesn't hold the ball much, but every time it has the ball, it damages the opponent," he said. "We don't have the best 11 players, but we can still make the strongest team."

The former Man City and Barca striker also thinks that Messi benefits from the new Argentina squad, when he is supported by his teammates more. "He is adapting to a new tactic," Aguero added. "Messi with 100% form will be deadly. But Argentina only needs Messi to reach 60% of form. Lionel Scaloni's team now helps Messi more than before."

Aguero attended three consecutive World Cups with Argentina in 2010, 2014 and 2018, but he had to retire at the end of 2021 due to heart disease. When not playing, Aguero often sends encouraging messages to teammates, including Messi. "I often advise Messi after every game, even during halftime," he added. "But he almost never answers me at halftime, unless the team leads 4-0."

Messi scored and assisted Argentina to win the UAE 5-0 in a friendly match in Abu Dhabi on the evening of November 16. He played the whole match, and was not injured. Striker Lautaro Martinez is not used, while Paulo Dybala has not recovered from injury. Coach Scaloni revealed he may have to replace the player who did not recover in time.

Aguero thinks that Argentina's opening match against Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup will be the most complicated, because it is the first match. In 2014, Argentina also only won another Asian team, Iran, 1-0 in the second half thanks to Messi's work. "We need to win against Saudi Arabia to gain confidence, but we cannot underestimate them," Aguero said.

The most difficult opponent to play against Argentina in the group stage is Mexico, according to Aguero. "Every time they meet Argentina, Mexico wants to play the best game in their history," he said. "This opponent always plays better against the strongest team."

Aguero expects Argentina to meet Spain in the final of the 2022 World Cup. If not, he wants a new team that will take the throne in Qatar this year.