Lionel Messi hopes Argentina doesn't have to play Spain in next year's World Cup.

“I would prefer to avoid Spain [at the World Cup] because of the way they play," Messi told TyC Sports. "They would be a tough rival. The favorites are Spain, Brazil, Germany, France...they're the countries in the best form."

Argentina is in Pot 1 alongside Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Belgium, Poland, Russia and France. Spain is in Pot 2.

Argentina lost in the final of the 2014 World Cup.