Pochettino praised Messi as an incredible player.

In an interview, U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino stated that Argentine superstar Lionel Messi remains an incredible player and believes Argentina is the biggest favorite to win the 2026 World Cup.

In the first round of Group J matches in the World Cup, Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Messi.

It's worth mentioning that Messi, now 38, was coached by Pochettino during his time playing for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.

US head coach Mauricio Pochettino said, "Messi is simply from another planet. No matter what comparisons, metaphors, or adjectives we use to describe him, it is not comprehensive enough and it is not fair."

“Watching him play is unbelievable, and watching this world champion team is equally amazing, whether it's the players, the coaching staff, or the fans. It was the first game we watched, and the cheers from the fans were even clearer than the commentators' voices. And to make matters better, they also have Messi.”

Pochettino pointed out, "I think they are the toughest team to beat in this tournament. They are the favorites to win the title, the contenders, and they have already proven that in their first match. As we all know, the first match of the World Cup is never easy."

Furthermore, the United States will face Australia in their next Group D match of the World Cup. In their last match, the United States defeated Paraguay 4-1, thanks to an own goal, as well as goals from Balogun and Giovanni Reyna.

However, American winger Christian Pulisic was injured and substituted during the match. When asked about Pulisic's recovery, Pochettino said, "As everyone knows, he has been training alone all week. As usual, we will hold meetings with the medical team to assess the team's situation. If we reach an agreement, we will release the relevant information."

“It’s always a shame when something like this happens. But I think Pulisic is very strong and has an excellent mentality. He’s putting in a tremendous effort to be ready to play as soon as possible. He’s really working very hard to get back on the court.”

Image source: Internet