Jamie Carragher wants Argentina NOT England to win the World Cup so Lionel Messi can cement his GOAT status

Jamie Carragher says he wants Argentina to win the World Cup in Qatar so that Lionel Messi can cement his status as "the greatest player to ever play football".

Messi, 35, has won numerous club and individual trophies over the course of his illustrious career, including the Ballon d'Or seven times.

However, he has found success on the international stage much harder to come by.

It took him until 2021 to win his first major trophy with Argentina, the former Barcelona star inspiring his nation to victory in the Copa America after finishing runner-up in the competition three times previously.

But he has never won the World Cup, coming closest in the 2014 tournament when Argentina were narrowly beaten by Germany in the final in neighbouring Brazil.

The upcoming World Cup in Qatar, which gets underway on November 20, could very well be Messi's final opportunity to win the tournament as a player.

And former England international Carragher says he would prefer to see Argentina be crowned champions instead of the Three Lions so that Messi can cement his status as the world's greatest footballer.

"He is the best player I think all three of us has ever seen," Carragher said on CBS Sports, referring to his fellow pundits Thierry Henry and Micah Richards.

"You've got greats that have come before; Pele, maybe Johan Cruyff, of course we all saw [Diego] Maradona.

"But I would say that Lionel Messi is the greatest player to ever play football.

"That may not be universal because everyone associates… you have to win a World Cup.

"I would love nothing more than in Qatar for Argentina and Lionel Messi to win the World Cup.

"Just to cement him, where I see him - but in everybody's eyes, as the greatest player to have ever played the game."

Messi looks in superb form ahead of the tournament, having recently scored four goals in two games for Argentina on their recent tour of the United States.

He also scored a brilliant goal for PSG in their 1-1 draw with Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday night, just days after scoring a magnificent free-kick in his side's 2-1 win over Nice in Ligue 1.

The Argentine has now scored eight goals and provided eight assists in his 13 games for PSG this season.

He will hope to carry that form into the World Cup next month, with Argentina one of the favourites to win the tournament.

Lionel Scaloni's side face Saudi Arabia in their opening match on November 22.

They will then take on Mexico on November 26 before playing their final group game against Poland on November 30.