Lionel Messi expects to get back into top form by the time the World Cup comes around this summer.
The Argentine superstar has struggled to remain healthy in 2013-14 and lost the Ballon d'Or for the first time in four years this past January. Now he is back on the pitch for Barcelona and looking to recapture the form that allowed him to score 92 goals in 2012.
"I'm very well, full of energy and with a lot of hope. I was able to play again after a long time," he said, according to ESPN. "I'm happy with my current form and slowly but surely I will be getting there to hopefully peak at the right time of the year.
"I hope this could be a great year not only for me but also for Barcelona and for Argentina," he added. I hope to keep performing at a high level all the way to the World Cup because we have a lot to play for with Barca, with a hard tie in the Champions League, and a very hard La Liga and Copa del Rey to deal with.
"To desire to keep winning things are my main motivation. I want to keep going and win them all."
Messi will have to improve if either of his teams is to have success in 2013-14. Barcelona is currently tied for second place in the Spanish league and needs a good stretch of wins to overcome Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the race for first place. The team also has a tough Champions League round of 16 assignment against Manchester City.
Messi also needs to get into form for the upcoming World Cup in Brazil where his nation is expected to be a heavy favorite. Argentina is in a group that features Nigeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iran; most expect Argentina to breeze through the group with nine points. However, the team will have a lot more challenging assignments in the knockout stages and will need Messi at his best to overcome them.
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