Messi fears he could MISS his last-ever World Cup with injuries

Lionel Messi has opened up about his injury concerns ahead of the Qatar World Cup after fellow Argentinian forwards Paulo Dybala and Angel Di Maria became doubts for the tournament following injuries.

Messi himself has missed PSG's last two games with a calf strain, and will be desperate to perform in a World Cup that he recently revealed will be his last.

The 35-year-old came agonisingly close to winning the tournament in 2014, but ultimately lost to Germany after an extra-time winner for Mario Gotze in the final.

He is now concerned that the winter timing for the World Cup may affect the number of injuries. He told DirecTV: 'Injuries are a worry. This is a different World Cup which is played at a different time of the year to previous tournaments and it's so imminent any little thing that happens to you can force you out.

'With what happened to Dybala and Di Maria, the truth is that personally you worry and you're more afraid when you see those sort of things.'

Di Maria's muscle injury is not as bad as initially feared and he is expected to play in the tournament, but Dybala remains a serious doubt due to a quadricep problem.

Messi continued:  'It's something you think about but I feel going out to play with that in your head can be contradictory as well.

'The best thing you can do is perform as normal and play your game as you always do.

'I hope Di Maria and Dybala recover in time. They have enough time to do so and reach the tournament in good shape.'