Herzogenaurach: Lionel Messi has finally broken his two-week silence.
Dubbed the next "Maradona," 18-year-old Messi was also being called "La Gran Incognita" - The Great Unknown - around Argentina's training camp in northern Bavaria.
He didn't play in Saturday's 2-1 opening victory over Ivory Coast, and he'd kept silent until he was surrounded on Monday by reporters as the left the team hotel to enjoy a practice-free afternoon.
"Perhaps I'll be selected to play, or maybe not," Messi said.
He's not expected to start in Friday's Group C match against Serbia-Montenegro, a young substitute behind veterans Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola.
He also been nursing a right thigh injury for three months, which kept him out for the last part of FC Barcelona's season.
"You have to always be ready," he said.
"I'm very well and the injury doesn't hurt me. I want to play, and obviously I was expecting I'd go in as a substitute. If I play, I want things to go well."
Monday's morning practice was typical.
A dozen long-lens cameras focused on Messi at the far end of the field during a dribbling drill with fellow striker Julio Cruz.
Often Messi sits alone, juggling a ball with both feet from a seated position as he chats with his longtime friend - 19-year-old backup goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
"I think Messi is the main question every Argentine is asking about, and every soccer fan," said Jorge Barril, who is covering Argentina for ESPN's Spanish-language service.
"I think the coach wants to protect him from getting caught up in the frenzy of the World Cup. But Argentine fans want him to play."
Messi has been a mystery in Argentina since he left at age 13 to play for Barcelona's youth team.
He's quick, highly skilled and most Argentines describe him as a "media punta" - a blend between a pure striker and a central midfielder.
Former Barcelona coach Carles Rexach said he's the only Argentine he's ever seen with Maradona's dribbling talent.
But he's never played for an Argentine club. The first most Argentines saw of him in person was just under a year ago when the played for Argentina's national team against Peru at River Plate stadium in Buenos Aires.
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He scored his only goal in six games for the national team in a 3-2 exhibition loss to Croatia.
Messi's problem is Argentina's depth. The two-time champions are carrying six forwards - one more than most teams - with Messi vying with substitutes Rodrigo Palacio, Julio Cruz and Carlos Tevez.
Tevez, of Brazilian champions Corinthians, has also been called a "Maradona in waiting."
Messi, who turns 19 later this month and wears No 19, has racked up the superlatives.
He was named best player in the World Youth Championship a year ago.
He's the youngest to ever score for Barcelona, the Spanish and European champion.
In his debut with Argentina 10 months ago against Hungary, he was sent off on a red card after less than one minute - an Argentine national team record.
"These days, Messi is the player who generates the most expectations among Argentine fans," said Elias Perugino, a reporter with the Argentine magazine El Grafico.
"We know (coach Jose) Pekerman values him, he just hasn't played him."
Few know Messi better than Pekerman, who coached Argentina to three World Youth titles before taking over the senior national team in September 2004.
Argentina also won in 2005 with Messi leading the way, this team coached by Pekerman's assistant Francisco Ferraro.
"Messi is in very good shape and if he's in good shape, we're in good shape," Pekerman said last week.
Pekerman has hinted he won't rush Messi into action, wanting to protect his young star.
"The questions about Messi always bubble up," said Joaquin Balbis, a reporter with La Voz del Interior - a newspaper in the central Argentine city of Cordoba.
"Argentina is a country of talking over coffee, and there's no doubt that's what people are talking about: Why isn't Messi playing?"
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