Croatian midfielder Luka Modric has rated Argentina as one of the favorites for the FIFA World Cup 2022, which will take place later in the year. La Albiceleste is unbeaten in their last 33 matches and they are on a roll in the recent past.

The men in White and Blue recently won Finalissima against European Champions Italy as they won by 3-0. Messi was the star of the show as he provided two assists and bagged the Player of the Match award.

Subsequently, Argentina obliterated Estonia by 5-0 in a friendly clash. The team’s captain Lionel Messi scored all the five goals as Estonia’s defense had no answers to his onslaught.

Meanwhile, Croatia had beaten Argentina by 3-0 in the quarterfinal clash in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, the Real Madrid star believes Argentina have a better team now and they are always going to be a force to reckon with Lionel Messi at the helm.

Speaking to ESPN, the Real Madrid ace said (via El Diario): “We played against Argentina in the last World Cup and we won. What I see now is a very good team, it seems to be stronger than a few years ago. They have a good group, they created a very strong group with Messi at the head, who is a different player.”

He further added: “They are more united. They haven’t lost many games. That says a lot. Having Messi, they are always one of the favorites to win the World Cup.”

Meanwhile, Messi and co. will begin their FIFA World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia on November 22. Subsequently, they will take on Mexico and Poland in Group C of the tournament. On the other hand, Croatia is drawn with Belgium, Canada, and Morocco in Group F.

Lionel Messi will turn 35 later in the month and it is expected to be his last World Cup for Argentina. Messi had won his first major trophy with the national team when they lifted Copa America in 2021.