[Soccer World Cup Special Column]Lionel Messi, representing Argentina in the final of the Qatar World Cup. A reporter from the Spanish culture magazine Panenka spells out the legend that challenges the stage of the final World Cup.
■ The history of soccer itself
It seems like everything has been written regarding Lionel Messi. But he doesn’t stop the players from writing their own history, he obliges us to discover new words. Messi is running the history of football itself, so it can’t be helped.
Messi has been defined in so many different ways.
“Messi is a dog”
— Argentinian journalist Hernán Casiari struck a chord with us when he described Messi as a man who never falls, never dives, never complains, and just concentrates on the ball and the goal.
“Messi is an alien”
—Barcelona newspapers have said so dozens of times, perpetuating the hoax that his homeland was extraterrestrial.
‘Messi is the surest thing in sport’
–This is the opinion of journalist Marti Paralnau.
“Messi is a goat”
――Goat pictograms that appear endlessly on SNS. “GOAT (Greatest of All Time)”.
“Messi, please don’t get bored!”
–This is the wish of Dani Alves, one of the people who understood each other the most on the pitch.
Also, even if you explain it simply and clearly without using exaggeration, you can understand the awesomeness of the existence of Messi. For example, journalist Juamma Romero wrote on Twitter: “A good striker scores good goals. A good midfielder makes good assists. Messi does it all by himself. That’s why he’s the best.” was noted.
“Total Footballer”. The most decisive player in the world who will be recorded and remembered. From the age of 18 when he made his debut for Barcelona’s first team to now, at 35, Messi has remained the same. The numbers I’ve left in my career, the numbers I’ve left in Qatar, prove that. No player has scored more goals, assists, dribbled through or created chances than Messi at this World Cup. Despite it being his fifth World Cup.
The magic dribble that tossed Joszko Gvardiol in the team’s third goal once morest Croatia in the semi-final showed that genius has no age concept. Croatia’s centre-back, who has made a big presence in the tournament, is 15 years younger than Messi. But Leo was making him dizzy, as if teaching him the rhythm of cumbia.
Goddess of Argentina
(C)Getty Images
Everyone knows that Messi has always wanted to win the World Cup. That said, I don’t see him feeling as frustrated as he used to. Perhaps he knows that the real treasure is enjoying the World Cup itself to the fullest. Because there is no next time. Messi spent his days in Qatar with all kinds of emotions. His mental maturity can be recognized from his attitude of leading the team and the way he shares joy with the supporters. Teru da idiot”) makes you feel relaxed.
Messi kept his anger inside himself, and it was not uncommon for it to manifest itself in unhealthy ways (the media picked up on his dissatisfaction through people involved and stirred it up scandalously). But at this World Cup, he always gives post-match interviews and has something to say. He took the blame when we lost our opening match once morest Saudi Arabia, and since then he has told us to be more careful when we win (as if he were telling himself). It would have been unthinkable before for Messi to speak so much in public.
Once a target for criticism, Messi is now more protected than ever by his own media and his teammates. Messi drifts around the pitch while Rodrigo De Paul blocks counterattacks or Nicolas Otamendi clears the ball from his own penalty area. To the ignorant, it seems like walking lazily, but analysts disagree. Like a control character in a video game, he builds up his stamina gauge, searching for the space and timing to make a decisive play. To maximize the effectiveness of the play that only he can do.
After all, a team called Argentina plays ‘for Messi’, not ‘for Messi’. The difference between the two is big. Messi is the goddess of Eugène Delacroix’s “Liberty Leading the People”. She is beautiful and intimidating and leads the people, who are shot, attacked and covered in mud. Leo is spotless, but he holds the flag high as a symbol of France…not Argentina.
■ Last Messi
(C)Getty Images
Messi reached that point in his fifth World Cup. Germany 2006 was still a fledgling player. He was coached by Diego Maradona at the 2010 South Africa Games. At the 2014 tournament in Brazil, he suffered a big disappointment when he lost to Germany in the final. There was nothing at the 2018 Russia Games… And now, in Qatar 2022, he’s taken one step at a time, reveling in the joy of just playing, without suffering the pressure he’s had in the past.
Perhaps Messi has unburdened himself by winning the Copa America in the summer of 2021. The tears he shed following defeating Brazil in the final made him stronger. Messi has long been accused of having a ‘Pecho Julio’ (cold heart) who didn’t give his best for Argentina, and once retired from international football. But following winning the Copa America, no one doubts him anymore. Not only that, but he doesn’t even make it a condition to love, such as winning a title. Messi is now one of us, singing and crying like them.
Messi is so beautiful in this moment, with Diego Maradona watching from the sky. It’s been almost 20 years since Michael Jordan’s retirement until we see the classic Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance on Netflix, but it’s like watching a documentary like that in real time. Messi is definitely making history at this moment. She doesn’t need to wait and look back.
The man broke the record for most appearances at the World Cup following winning his seventh Ballon d’Or on Sunday. Win or lose, the footprints will never disappear. Now, it’s “Last Messi”. Let’s be grateful that we live in the same era, and burn it into our retinas.
Text = Roger Xuriach (Spain “Panenka” magazine)
Translated by Shinichiro Ema