Argentina, Messi: "If we were to win in Russia, I would walk to Saint Nicholas"

With qualification secured for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Lionel Messi and Argentina only have a couple of friendly matches to play. The Argentine star spoke to Tyc Sport about an array of national team topics, including Mauro Icardi, "The truth is coming out, they were all false, especially that we didn't want Icardi in the national squad. I've never put myself in the middle, it's not my way of doing things. I laugh at all of the rumors that I hear, that there are no players of caliber here except for Di Maria, Mascherano and Biglia. To say that they play because they are my friends is a lack of respect toward me and against them. They are all lies. Higuain? The error in 2014 hurts us all. Russia 2018? If we were to leave there as champions, I would vote to walk all the way to the Sanctuary of Saint Nicholas. Regrets? We have played in three finals (a World Cup and two Copa America) and we deserved to win at least two. But things can happen. We suffered a lot to get to this World Cup, but we couldn't be left out and I always believed we would qualify. Now we concentrate on the tournament in Russia, because time flies in a hurry."