HOW MESSI WROTE A PERFECT ENDING TO HIS FAIRYTALE
Argentina captain conjured moments of magic to haul his team out of tight spot
The kiss said it all. It clearly showed how much the World Cup meant to Lionel Messi. There was a glint in his eye as the Argentine captain stopped to look at the gleaming golden trophy. Messi stepped forward, patted its dome, and kissed it lightly. That wasn’t enough. He kissed it once more and smiled at the knowledge that it was his before walking away. It was a telling moment. An iconic moment that revealed how much it mattered.
He’s been chasing it for over 17 years. Finally, in his 26th World Cup appearance, Messi bagged the elusive trophy. With a winner’s medal around his neck and a ceremonial bisht (Arab men’s cloak) draped over his shoulders, Messi hoisted the trophy and was carried around the field on his teammates’ shoulders.
Lusail Stadium was a sea of blue and white, and the La Albiceleste supporters waved, danced and sang in celebration. Their 36-year wait was finally over. Argentina were last crowned world champions in 1986 when Diego Maradona’s magical skills floored their opponents and wowed the world. In Qatar, it was another left-footed wonder that delivered the trophy.
Messi is a football genius in his own right. But he suffered from the long shadow cast by Maradona and his World Cup-winning feat. Messi seemed keen to rectify that when he arrived in Qatar on December 16. Even a loss to Saudi Arabia wouldn’t stop him; he reportedly gave an inspirational talk on the team bus. Since then, Argentina haven’t lost a game. Not even the final.
The little magician worked wonders to extricate Argentina from tight spots. In the group stages, when Mexico frustrated Argentina, Messi’s left foot conjured a goal from 20 yards. Australia stalled Argentina in the Round of 16 only for Messi to whip out his trademark touches and passes before breaching the net for his 789th goal in 1,000 international appearances.
Messi’s creativity
Messi’s dream nearly soured in the semi-finals. The Netherlands overturned a two-goal deficit and pushed the ill-tempered game into the penalty shootout. Argentina emerged victorious at the end of the fiery match that saw 17 yellow cards and a red card. Even the calm Messi lost his cool, shouting at a Dutch player. It was more proof of how desperate Messi and the Argentinians were to win the cup.
What was also inescapable was Argentina’s reliance on Messi. Enzo Fernandes and Julian Alvarez looked good, but it required Messi’s creativity to unlock doughty defences. The pass that found a tiny gap in the Dutch defence for Nahuel Molina to open the scoring is a fine example. It had the trademark Messi stamp on it.
For the first time in the tournament, Argentina looked like a champion side when they ran circles around France in the final. The urgency and aggression reflected their keenness to win for Messi. That would be the best farewell present.
Messi was there, orchestrating the moves with incisive passes. One flick pass at a 45-degree angle released Alexis Mac Allister, leading to Angel Di Maria’s goal. When France hit back through Kylian Mbappe, Messi’s rarely-used right foot struck the goal to put Argentina ahead in extra time.
A storm must have raged through Messi’s mind since shootouts are perilous. He didn’t fail; he couldn’t afford it. For this is his World Cup. The rest of the La Albiceleste too held their nerves. Joy, tears and relief. Argentinians didn’t stop waving and dancing. The song ‘Muchachos’ rang out in the stadium. The players joined the chorus, and Messi ambled across the field to join them.
He’s got nothing left to prove. There’s no more missing silverware: first the Copa America, now the Fifa World Cup. That’s the fitting end to the fairytale of Messi. He owned the Qatar World Cup.
Messi is a football genius in his own right. But he suffered from the long shadow cast by Maradona and his World Cupwinning feat.