Vladimir Potanin said that Alexander Ovechkin “fought for a long time” for the Stanley Cup and deservedly took it at the age of 32. “Maybe Messi will get such a gift,” says the head of Norilsk Nickel
Lionel Messi
(Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Russian businessman, president of Interros and head of the Board of Trustees of the Night Hockey League Foundation Vladimir Potanin declared “Match TV” that the example of Alexander Ovechkin, who won the Stanley Cup for the 13th year in the NHL, can help the leader of the Argentina national team, Lionel Messi.
“Ovechkin is at least an outstanding player. As long as he is an active hockey player, we will not rank him among the greats. The fact that he was able to win the Stanley Cup in 2018 is very cool. Maybe Ovechkin’s example will help Messi win the World Cup. Alexander fought for a silver cup for a long time and deservedly took it at the age of 32. And Messi is now 35. Maybe he will get such a gift, ”Potanin said.
Messi has previously said that the World Cup in Qatar will be his last. The forward has been playing for the Argentina national team since 2005 and during this time he won only the Olympics and one America’s Cup (2021), and in 2014 he lost the World Cup final to the Germans with the national team.
Ovechkin, 37, is a three-time world champion with Russia and a 2018 Stanley Cup winner with the Washington Capitals.