Pedri wants Spain versus Argentina final because of Messi

Pedri Gonzalez said in an interview with 'EFE' that he wants to play the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar against Leo Messi's Argentina. He will be eternally grateful to him because of what he shared with Pedri during the early stages of his professional career. Pedri also lamented the last minute absence of Karim Benzema, a "setback" for defending champions, France.
"Messi was the best player I'd seen and after playing with him, I can only say that being at his side was a privilege. I thank him for how well he behaved with me. He treated me very well from the first moment. On the pitch, he makes it easy for you to play," he said in a message of appreciation and admiration.
The step up Pedri made, going from playing at Las Palmas to Barcelona and the Spanish national team at the age of just 17 was partly thanks to the help of a legend like Messi. "He gave us advice so that we were calm and played as well as we could. He told me to feel free on the pitch. When someone like Leo tells you that, it's worth triple compared to if someone else says it.
Because of all that, if Pedri has to choose an opponent he would like to face at the Qatar World Cup, he did not hesitate in choosing Argentina, who he sees as the favourite together with Brazil and France.
"If I face who I would like to face, it would be best if it were in a final," he wished. "It would be Argentina, especially so I could play against Leo and be in the opposite team to him, something I've never experienced before. It would be a very nice memory."
"Argentina are one of the favourites together with France and Brazil, teams who have a lot of potential and firepower up top. We'll see what happens because in a World Cup you never know," he added in a relazed chat with 'EFE' in the University of Qatar.
Pedri lamented the final blow that football received before the start of the World Cup with the muscle injury to Karim Benzema, which has provoked his return to Madrid.
"Benzema is a world class player who has lots and lots of quality, esepcially without the balll. The way he gets away from players is something few players in the world can do and it's a setback a player like him will miss the World Cup."