Will Messi manage to offer the third star to the Albiceleste? And if so, can he claim to take the place of Diego Maradona in the hearts of Argentines? The debate is endless, but in the event of victory on Sunday in the final of the 2022 World Cup for the Albiceleste, it will be difficult to argue that Messi is not up there, accompanied only by Pelé and Diego Maradona.
“You might think they say that Messi is the greatest in history because we are Argentinians. But I think there is no doubt,” coach Lionel Scaloni said on Tuesday after the new recital of his N.10.
Beyond his fifth goal of the tournament, the third from a penalty, Messi displayed the same pattern as in previous matches: mostly walking, guiding and analyzing; the few moments that remain, he uses them to hurt, very badly, as noted by poor Josko Gvardiol, imperial since the start of the tournament and martyred by genius on the 3-0 goal.
“Wonderful Harlequin”
According to the Argentine daily Clarin, Messi’s “magic” number on this action is “the most beautiful assist in the history of all the World Cups”, which we had already thought of the previous one, offered to Nahuel Molina against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
Radio journalist Victor Hugo Morales, famous for having depicted Maradona as a “cosmic kite” during his commentary on the famous goal of the “Pibe de Oro” during Argentina-England in 1986, was meanwhile still at the Lusail stadium. Tuesday and Messi’s action inspired him again.
“Wonderful harlequin, servant of the art of football, incredible mime, capable in a single gesture of showing the beauty of sport”, he greeted in a new fiery comment.
One genius, ten valiant
In fact, the Albiceleste of 2022 looks a bit like that of 1986, with a genius posed in the middle of the men, surrounded by ten brave men.
“Carlos Bilardo (the manager of the 1986 team) told us for eight years that the selection was Maradona and ten others. This team is Messi and ten others. He has been the best in the world for 20 years”, judged with AFP Jorge Burruchaga, author of the victorious goal of Argentina in the final of the World Cup-86 on a decisive pass from … Maradona.
Messi, on the other hand, is on his way, smiling again on Tuesday after appearing in a darker light after the quarter-final, angry with all the Netherlands.
“Surely” the last
“On a personal level, I’m happy at this World Cup. I’m having a lot of fun and I’m lucky to be able to help the group to get things done,” he said after the match. “Helping the group” is an understatement, since with his goal and his assist on Tuesday, the N.10 is at 170 matches, 96 goals and 52 assists in the Argentinian jersey, including five goals and three passes in Qatar.
The former Barcelona also confirmed to the daily Olé that Sunday’s match against France or Morocco would “surely” be the last of his World Cup career. “Ending like this is the best,” he said.
On Sunday, the Paris SG player will therefore finish a journey started in 2006 when he was a kid with long hair and had Scaloni as a teammate. He also tried in 2010, with Maradona as coach, in 2014, where he came close with a first final lost against Germany, and in 2018. “Football owes a World Cup to Messi”, had to l time estimated his coach at the time, Jorge Sampaoli. It may be for Sunday, in any case it’s the last chance.