Laimer Hails Argentina as World Cup’s Best, Calls Messi the Best Player on the Planet

Austria midfielder, Konrad Laimer, has described Argentina as the best team at the ongoing FIFA World Cup while praising captain Lionel Messi as the best footballer in the world.

The Bayern Munich midfielder made the comments ahead of Austria’s FIFA World Cup Group J meeting with the defending champions on Monday.

Laimer believes Argentina’s status as reigning world champions, combined with their quality across the squad, makes them the team to beat at the tournament.

“Argentina are the reigning world champions, so they are the best, and Messi is the best player in the world,” Laimer told FIFA’s official website.

The 29-year-old added that facing top players like Messi provides a valuable opportunity for players to test themselves against the highest standard of football.

“It’s always great to play against players of that calibre and see how you measure up against them. In the end, you see just how good you really are,” he said.

Laimer also acknowledged Argentina’s strength, describing them as a special team with outstanding quality, but insisted Austria are focused on proving themselves and fighting for qualification.

“Of course, we want to show what we can do too, but the other matches will be just as important if we want to progress,” he added.

Opinion: Laimer’s comments reflect the respect Argentina still commands on the global stage. Since lifting the World Cup trophy, the South American giants have carried the confidence and mentality of champions, with Messi remaining the symbol of their excellence.

However, tournaments are not won by reputation alone. Argentina’s biggest challenge will be maintaining consistency as every opponent raises their level against the defending champions. For Austria, the match represents more than just a difficult fixture — it is a chance to measure their progress against one of football’s elite nations.