Will Lionel Messi emulate Diego Maradona at Rugby World Cup? Argentina would ‘love’ another superstar guest at semi-final clash with New Zealand

Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi cemented his standing alongside Maradona when inspiring his country to global glory in football circles at Qatar 2022. The South American nation are now hoping to repeat that trick while competing with a ball of a different shape.

Argentina have made it to the last four of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, with the Pumas now readying themselves for an epic showdown with the mighty All Blacks of New Zealand. They will have plenty of support in Paris, but it is unlikely that former PSG star Messi will be returning to the French capital as he is currently away on international duty of his own.

Argentina veteran Agustin Creevy has told reporters when extending an invitation to his illustrious fellow countryman: "If Messi could now come we’d love that. But I don’t think so because he’s in Miami playing. In 2015 Maradona was retired, it was easy for him to come and stay with us. He was the best player I could meet in my whole life. He sang with us, he made a speech, everything. It was really important for us.”

Argentina suffered semi-final heartache against Australia eight years ago – in what was a historic fixture for them played out on English soil at Twickenham – and they are hoping to go one better this time around after battling their way to an impressive comeback victory over Wales at the quarter-final stage.