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This is Lionel’s last chance Messi. Et starts off on the right foot.
Messi’s saga is one of the great stories of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. He is one of the most productive footballers of all time. His career with FC Barcelona broke records.
And yet, he has never been to win a World Cup with his local Argentina.
Messi’s story is told as that of a child prodigy who rose through the ranks of Barcelona, Spain. But the lesser-known saga is that of Messi as a young immigrant who longed to return home.
Messi grew up in the 90s, in the rural province of Santa Fe, Argentina’s edition of the Midwest. He was bright in the area even as a child, but struggled with severe physical disorders (hormone expansion deficit). His circle of relatives (the father worked in a metal factory, the mother cleaned houses) may simply not be a treatment. At first, when Argentina sank into a severe economic depression, Messi and his father emigrated, along with many thousands of other Argentines.
In Spain, Messi won the most productive football education a child could wish for, at FC Barça’s legendary academy, La Macia. When he started collecting trophies, titles and cups for Barça’s professional team, he also chose to play for the Argentine national team. It was a key moment in his career: Spain looked for him to sign for their ranks, but he refused. He spoke of the nostalgia he felt for Argentina and the fervor with which he dreamed of wearing blue again. and white jersey in foreign competitions.
It’s romantic, but anyone who has left home knows that returning after a long period of absence is complicated. For years, Messi’s performance with the Argentine national team was nothing short of tragic. And the worse he played, the angrier the others became. At home it became. Fans have asked to know: why did Barça do so well in Europe and Argentina do so badly?There is a whole cottage industry of theorists and commentators bent on investigating the matter, who have warned that everything is to blame, from Messi’s own identity crisis to the more credible fact that the Barca team is better at supporting his genius.
The fact is that Messi has spent most of his career looking to win with Argentina, fighting for the affection of his own and failing miserably.
Everything seemed to change under the direction of young new coach Lionel Scaloni, who led Argentina to a historic victory in the 2021 Copa America (it’s a wonderful Copa Sudamericana). going to Qatar would be an understatement. The team appeared to be a serious contender to go far in the tournament. There’s also a deadline coming up: Messi, now 35, recently announced it would be his last World Cup.
Early this morning, the Argentines gathered early to watch the team’s debut in Qatar against Saudi Arabia. Overall, it seemed like a simple victory. But the world of football surprised with what was extended in the next 90 minutes: a 2-1 defeat. for Argentina
This will remain a historic change for Saudi Arabia, which until now was considered an unimpressive competitor.
Of course, it’s more than football, it is. For Messi, what is at stake is not just another name under his belt. This is his chance to be a hero in a homeland that has shunned him. It’s his last cup.
Listen to La última copa on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Listen to La última copa en español on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.