Top News

LUBUKPAKAM – Deli Serdang Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) member Muhammad Hasan Elkholqiyah has expressed his admiration for the Argentina national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Although he acknowledges that France and Spain have strong squads, he believes Argentina has a significant chance to lift the World Cup trophy this year.

The presence of Lionel Messi, according to him, will play a decisive role and should not be underestimated by other teams.

“My favourite team is Argentina, but if we look at the toughest squad, it’s definitely France. On paper, France and Spain are filled with star players, but let’s wait and see how each team performs in their opening matches,” said Muhammad Hasan.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) politician, popularly known as Oki, said he has been a long-time supporter of Argentina. His all-time favourite player remains Lionel Messi, while others like Lautaro Martínez and Nico Paz also earn his admiration.

“Basically, Argentina’s squad is still solid — from the goalkeeper, defenders to the forwards, all are impressive. The young player Nico Paz is also outstanding. Besides their star power, their mentality as 2022 World Cup champions is also a big asset,” Oki explained.

Oki pointed out that, on paper, France and Spain are currently the most expensive squads in the world. Even though Spain won the Euro 2024 title, the leadership of Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni cannot be overlooked. Scaloni previously guided his team to Copa América victories in 2020, 2022, and 2024.

“In my opinion, Argentina’s chances are around 60 percent, but of course, the tournament hasn’t started yet. Let’s just wait for their first match,” Oki added.

(dra)