Argentina's super star Lionel Messi, who will play in his last FIFA World Cup in Qatar at the end of this year, said on Friday that his team fears nobody.

"Today we are doing well and people are excited and think that we will come back with the Cup, but it is not like that," Messi told Directv Sports. "The World Cup is very difficult, many things have to happen [to win it], not only that we are doing well, many things that can leave you out and there are many teams that want the same as us and that are doing well."

"We are eager, we are going to fight, we are not afraid of anyone because we are ready to play against anyone, but with peace of mind," he added.

The Qatar World Cup will take place from November 20 to December 18. Argentina are in Group C with Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia. The last time Argentina reached the World Cup final was in 2014 in Brazil and they lost to Germany 1-0. The last time they won the World Cup championship was in 1986 in Mexico and they beat West Germany 3-2 in the final.

In the last edition of the tournament in 2018 in Russia, Argentina advanced to the knockout stage as the second from Group D. They were eliminated by France 4-3 in the Round of 16 game.

"Last World Cup, we started with a draw and I've always said that if I had scored the penalty and we had won it we would have changed the whole story," Messi said. Argentina were held 1-1 with Iceland in that game. Their first game in Qatar will be against Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail on November 22.

"In the first minutes of the first game the nerves and anxiety are difficult to control. I think the first game is very important because starting with a win gives you peace of mind," he added.