World Cup 2022: Joe Cole, Peter Crouch name player to win Golden Boot, Golden Ball

Former England players, Joe Cole and Peter Crouch, have picked Argentina captain Lionel Messi to win the Golden Boot (top scorer) and Golden Ball (best player) in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

This year’s World Cup will be Messi’s fourth appearance on the grandest football stage.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward has played 19 World Cup games so far across four editions, scoring six goals and registering five assists.

However, Messi has never won the World Cup but has won the Golden Ball in the past.

Speaking to LadBible’s Agree to disagree, Crouch said: “Has he [Lionel Messi] proven it in the World Cup? Maradona dragged Argentina to the World Cups, I say drag, they still had some good players.

“Regardless if they win it or not, he [Messi] could easily be Golden Boot and best player of the tournament.”

On his part, Cole said: “If they [Argentina] don’t win the tournament, it just leaves the [greatest player of all time] argument open. Regardless of whether they win it, I still feel he [Messi] will perform and he will be the best player.”