Leo has always been my idol - Dybala debunks rumours of issues with Messi

The footballer also described Leo Messi as his “idol” during a chat with TyC Sports. “One day I said to my friends that my dream was to play in a World Cup for Argentina,” he says.

“A World Cup is what I’ve always wanted and what I’ve fought for, that desire has now become an anecdote I can tell because I realised it, but four years ago I couldn’t have imagined being here.

“Messi? Leo has always been my idol, I’ve always admired him and I still admire him for what he does, for what he’s done and what he probably will do.

“He’s an incredible player, one you watch and try to learn from, right down to the smallest details.

“We want to reach the final, and many times [to do that] you have to face the best teams. Brazil, Germany, Spain or France will be the teams that arrive there, they’ve been proving it for many years.”