Messi and Argentina land in Doha for World Cup after big win in Abu Dhabi - in pictures

Messi on target in 5-0 friendly win over UAE before arriving in Qatar early Thursday

Lionel Messi arrives with the Argentina squad at Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar, on Thursday, November 17, 2022. Reuters

Lionel Messi, top right, and the Argentina squad arrive in Doha following a 5-0 win over UAE in Abu Dhabi. Reuters

Argentina's Lionel Messi arrives in Doha alongside Rodrigo De Paul. Reuters

Argentina forward Lionel Messi, second right, and teammates arrive at the Hamad International Airport in Doha on November 17, 2022, ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. AFP

The Argentina squad disembarks the airplane at Hamad International Airport. Getty Images

Angel Di Maria, left, and Lionel Messi, back left, arrive with teammates at Hamad International Airport in Doha. Argentina will play the first match in the World Cup against Saudi Arabia on November 22. AP Photo

Angel Di Maria, left, and Lionel Messi, second right, of Argentina arrive with teammates at Hamad International Airport in Doha. AP Photo

The airplane carrying the Argentina nsquad is painted with pictures of Lionel Messi, center, Angel Di Maria, left, and Rodrigo De Paul arrives at Hamad International airport in Doha, Qatar. AP Photo

Members of the Argentina team peer out from the windows on their plane. AFP

Members of the Argentina team peer out from the windows on their plane. AFP

Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates arrived in Qatar for the World Cup early on Thursday, just hours after a 5-0 warm-up victory over UAE in Abu Dhabi.

Messi scored the fourth of Argentina's goals at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, with Julian Alvarez, Angel di Maria (2) and Joaquin Correa also on target as Argentina extended their unbeaten run to 36 matches.

For 35-year-old Messi, Qatar is almost certain to be his final chance to follow in Diego Maradona's footsteps and lead Argentina to a World Cup title.

He landed with the rest of Lionel Scaloni's squad in Doha at 2.30am as they set up camp ahead of their first Group C assignment against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Messi was cautious about the team's chances in Qatar, even though they are among the favourites.

"We have a very nice group that is very eager, but we think about going little by little. We know that World Cup groups are not easy," the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner said in an interview with Conmebol, the South American football federation.