Topics: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Italy, CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions
Many are wondering if La Albiceleste are the team to beat after their dominant performance against Italy. Here's what Leo had to say on this matter.

Argentina were in action on Wednesday, taking on Italy in the highly-anticipated CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions showdown, or more commonly referred to as Finalissima.

The Albiceleste, being the Copa America winners, took on the champions of Europe at Wembley Stadium in what many expected to be an intense 90 minutes of football.

While it was a brilliant match for anyone who spared time to watch it, it was a complete one-sided affair as the South American giants blitz past their European opponents, beating them 3-0 thanks to goals from Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria, and Paulo Dybala, who came on as a late substitute.

This left everyone wondering. With Argentina, a nation in utter disarray at the 2018 World Cup, bossing the champions of Europe, are they now the ones to bet on come Qatar 2022? Lionel Messi, who enjoyed another vintage performance at Wembley, gave his thoughts on this matter in a candid conversation with reporters after the game.

La Pulga, who was named Man of the Match after his breathtaking performance tore Roberto Mancini's side apart, was under no illusions in regards to the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner did not shy away when discussing his nation's odds of winning, confessing that they are not the favorites for the eagerly-awaited tournament.

"We keep growing, that's what we are looking for. We are working on a day by day basis in order to improve further," Leo said, as per CGTN Sports Scene.

"We continue to say that we are not the top favorites, but we will put up a fight against anyone because this group is hopeful, it has clear goals.

"We must keep improving. Now we have important matches in September that we need to work [on] and improve in order to arrive the best way possible at our World Cup debut."

Nonetheless, that performance against the Azzurri will only bolster their confidence. Last summer, the two-time World Cup champions ended their long trophy drought by beating Brazil to lift the Copa America crown, and just under a year later, Messi has gotten his hand on a second international trophy, albeit a not-so-significant one.

All eyes, however, will be on this winter when Messi and Co. aim to win football's most prestigious trophy. Argentina have been grouped with Mexico, Poland, and Saudi Arabia, and are thus the favorites to make the knockout stage. What they will muster from then on is the interesting question.