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Argentina’s World Cup expectations lie largely on Lionel Messi. But even if Messi’s play is bang on, it will be interesting to see how the team — winners in ‘78 and ‘86 — perform under manager Diego Maradona.

As a player his legacy is unquestioned (he scored, arguably, the greatest goal in World Cup history, in 1986); however, “He’s not really cut out for management,” says Forrest. “What he does have is a stacked team with one of the best players in the world right now.”

That means pay attention when Lionel Messi is on the field.

FIFA’s 2009 World Player of the Year might be short (listed at 5′7″), but Messi possesses at lethal left foot and incredible dribbling ability. He’s already topped the 20-goal mark with club team Barcelona this season and a remarkable stretch in March that included a three-goal performance against Valencia. Even the biased English media have proclaimed him the best in the world.

When it comes to the World Cup, there’s Brazil, and then there’s everyone else. Brazil has won a record of 5 World Cups, with their all time record at 64-14-14.

This year’s team looks equally impressive with world-class forwards Luis Fabiano and Kaka, while goalkeeper Julio Cesar is among the game’s best.

“They could probably field three or four teams in the World Cup,” says Forrest. While Brazil plays in arguably the tournament’s toughest group — Group G, which includes Portugal, North Korea and Ivory Coast — it would take an epic collapse for this team not to advance to the Top 16.

Kaka is a key player to watch on Brazil.

The latest in the long line of otherworldly Brazilian forwards, Kaka — dubbed the game’s “most complete player” by no less an authority than Pele –boasts both a tremendous shot and an unparalleled passing ability.

While FIFA’s 2007 World Player of the Year has struggled through a lacklustre season with Real Madrid, his status as one of the game’s elite players was confirmed at the 2009 Confederations Cup (won by Brazil), where he was awarded the Adidas Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.