Coulditnowbe ‘Messi Time’ over in Qatar?
It is beginning to look a lot like fate.
Lionel Messi signing off from the World Cup a week today by lifting the famous gold trophy aloft for the first time.
The little forward having sealed his status as the planet’s No. 1 footballer by leading Argentina to glory.
And, in the process, finally freeing himself from the shadow of Diego Maradona to claim his place as his nation’s greatest-ever player.
The path has not been easy.
The defeat by Saudi Arabia in the opening game heaped immense pressure on the little forward and his team-mates right from the start.
It put them in a position where they could not afford another slip-up and
– in front of their huge travelling support – they have handled it so well.
You look at their games, and you have to say that Messi carries them.
At 35 years old, he does not have the pace he used to have to slalom his way through defences.
However, while he does not run about so much, when he gets the ball, he makes the absolute most of it.
Everything he does either gives him the chance to score a goal himself, or to make one for his team-mate.
As his pass to Nahuel Molina for Argentina’s first goal against the Netherlands showed – as well his penalty conversions that followed – Messi still has that magic.
So that is why you look at it now and wonder: “Is it Messi time?”
All the best to Louis van Gaal, meanwhile, after his retirement – or rather his return to retirement.
I had actually hoped the Dutch FA would manage to keep him on because he has been so good for them.
The Netherlands have traditionally had a reputation for being troubled by disharmony in their camps.
That has not been the case this time. Their squad have looked happy, relaxed and very much together.
Van Gaal, who came back to lead the team after recovering from a bout of prostate cancer, has been the man responsible for that.
It is a shame it all ended with an acrimonious loss to Argentina, but he has had a terrific career in management.