Lionel Messi sees Argentina on the rise
His round dozen goals for his country equalled the mark for the 'Albiceleste' of the now-retired Gabriel Batistuta.
Argentina are slowly coming to the boil and can be a threat at next year's World Cup in Brazil, striker Lionel Messi indicated on Monday.
Although the albiceleste have a "way to go" they are nonetheless "growing" under coach Alex Sabella, and Messi, speaking ahead of the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich, says the signs are promising.
"(Last year) saw a change for the Argentinian side - we got the results we wanted, didn't lose and played well and so I'm happy about that. We have to keep growing, though, as a team," said the Barcelona star.
"We're on the rise, we have a good dynamic," said Messi, who netted 12 goals for his country in 2012 on his way to a world record 91 goals in a calendar year.
His round dozen goals for his country equalled the mark for the 'Albiceleste' of the now-retired Gabriel Batistuta.