Lionel Messi's doctor has surprisingly revealed that he does not want to see Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and "would like them to lose all three games" in Group C.
Widely considered to be among the favourites to win this year's tournament, Argentina will open their campaign on Tuesday afternoon with a tie against Middle East nation Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium.
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The South Americans are currently on an incredible 35-game unbeaten run, excluding their 5-0 win over the United Arab Emirates in a warm-up match last week.
Despite Paris Saint-Germain superstar Messi having already declared that this will be his last showing at the showpiece, his long-time doctor Diego Schwarzstein, who treated the player after he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a child prior to joining FC Barcelona and has remaind a close relationship with him since, has now revealed why he does not want the Albiceleste to triumph at the competition in Qatar.
"As a football fan, I would like Argentina to be champions. As an Argentine citizen, as a human being, I would like them to lose all three games and be eliminated in the first round," Schwarzstein said in an interview with The Times, per SPORTbible.
"Why? I'm convinced that this obscenely populist government that we have here would use the success of Argentina at the World Cup to cover things up.
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"They could announce the devaluation of the currency on the day that the team play when no one is focused on that.
"I've lived through many crises in this country, but this is the worst.
"The data from the government says that to not be poor you have to earn 120 000 Argentine pesos (about R13 000) per month. The minimum (monthly) wage is 60 000 pesos (about R6 400), so even those who have work, are poor."
Speaking in a press conference on Monday, Messi reiterated his plans regarding the tournament.
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"It will probably be my last World Cup, the last chance to achieve what we all want,” Messi said, according to the Argentina national team's official Twitter account.
"It's something beautiful that many people who are not Argentine want us to be champions.
"I am grateful for the love I received throughout my career."
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