Nicolas Spolli: Argentina Can Win the World Cup, Messi Is a Martian
June 22, 2026 · Fernando Ríos
Nicolas Spolli believes Argentina has the potential to win the World Cup, praising Messi as a unique talent and expressing disappointment over Italy's absence from the tournament.
Nicolas Spolli, the former defender known for his time at Catania and Roma, shared his thoughts on Argentina's chances in the upcoming World Cup. He stated unequivocally, "Argentina can go all the way, without a doubt. I see hunger, determination, and a desire to succeed."
Spolli, speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb.com ahead of Argentina's match against Austria, had high praise for Lionel Messi. He remarked, "He’s a Martian. After Maradona, it’s only him."
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When asked if he believes this Argentina squad can win the World Cup, he confidently replied, "Yes, I believe it. They have a great roster and a coach who is crucial in decisive moments, always making the right choices. Scaloni is the added value of this National Team."
As for the match against Austria, Spolli commented, "On paper, there’s no contest. But matches need to be played, and surprises can happen. However, Argentina is currently at a higher level than Austria."
He also mentioned the rising talent of Senegal's Mbaye, born in 2008, saying, "He will have a great future." Regarding his own background, Spolli expressed disappointment about Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time, saying, "I’m saddened, as Italy is my second homeland. Italy has no lack of talented players, but changes are needed. It’s difficult to pinpoint what improvements should be made. It’s not a coincidence that Italy has missed the World Cup three times in a row. While many talk and propose ideas, few offer solutions. I’ve seen few changes. ","slug":"nicolas-spolli-argentina-world-cup-messi-martian-maradona-mbaye-senegal-future-italy-2246391","seoTitle":null,"metaDescription":null,"keywords":null,"seo":{"meta_title":"Nicolas Spolli: Argentina Can Win the World Cup, Messi Is a Martian","meta_description":"Spolli believes Argentina has the talent and determination to go all the way in the World Cup, while praising Messi's phenomenal abilities.","keywords":["Nicolas Spolli","Argentina","Austria"]},"category":[],"tags":["Nicolas Spolli","Argentina","Austria"],"endpoint":"World Cup 2026","endpointAssignments":["World Cup 2026"]} json {
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