The 66 of the Matador Kempes: the birthday of the superhero in the World Cup 78

07/15/2020 - 11:29

• Clarín.com
• sports

Before Diego Maradona won the last World Cup for Argentina, in 1986, and Lionel Messi eclipsed the world from Barcelona and was close to caressing the World Cup in Brazil 2014, there was an Argentine who was the best on the planet: Mario Alberto Kempes. The Cordovan, superhero of the world champion in 1978, arrived on July 15 at the age of 66 and received messages and greetings from various corners of the world.  

Installed in the United States, more precisely in Bradenton (Florida), Kempes did not remain anchored in that title achieved 42 years ago in the World Cup held in Argentina.

In that appointment, with a happy ending at the Monumental stadium despite the difficult times in Argentina, the Bell Ville native was the great figure of the César Luis Menotti team and, with his two goals in sheer courage in the definition against the Netherlands, He also finished as the top gunner in the competition. Only he and Guillermo Stábile, in 1930, hold that privilege.

First converted into an ESPN journalist and then in the voice of the commentator on the soccer videogames of the FIFA saga, EA Sports, in times of pandemic and confinement, the Matador appears regularly on Instagram to make football alive and chat, of course, .

"The boys sometimes only know me because I am simply a voice. There are many who have never seen me. I went to Central America and they did not know me, but they did know my voice. It is a nice experience, but it is a difficult job because I go ahead Yours do not have a game to comment . There is a guide and you have to start looking for words so as not to be so repetitive. It is nice because you have the satisfaction that the boys tell you: 'Today I was playing with you' or 'Last night I was listening to you' or 'you talked bad about me the other night. These are very funny things, "he recently told Clarín about that new role as a virtual commentator.

This Wednesday, on a special date, Kempes did not take long to receive greetings on those social networks that he handles without problems. One of the first to send him an emotional message was Valencia, the club in which the Rosario shone with 149 goals in 8 seasons.

🎂 Today is the day of the LEGEND @ESPNMarioKempes

8⃣ seasons as Valencian 🖤 1⃣4⃣9⃣ goals ⚽ Cup Champion, Recopa, European Super Cup 🏆 and World Champion with @Argentina 🇦🇷

Happy 66, 'Matador'! 🦇 🎉 pic. twitter.com/MagFWwPtnc

There, in Valencia, the Matador is a living legend. His image, with that jet-black mane in the wind, appears at every step in the renovated Mestalla stadium. Kempes spent seven seasons there and was twice the league's top scorer. In addition, under his leadership, the team that won the 1979 Copa del Rey.

Mario Kempes, a repeated figure in the corridors of the Mestalla stadium, the home of Valencia.

All those good memories made him first the club's World Ambassador and recently, after a massive survey, the best player in the institution's history.

An autographed photo of Mario Kempes, in the Mestalla museum, the home of Valencia.

The one who disputes with the Spanish club that sense of belonging is Rosario Central, another of those who greeted Kempes on his 66th birthday. "The only Argentine world champion, scorer and best player in a World Cup," they highlighted on Twitter. of the rogue team.

#CumpleCanalla | Ke Mario Kempes. The only Argentine World Champion, Scorer and best player in a World Cup. Don't say goal, say Kempes. Matador Canalla

👏 @ESPNMarioKempes pic.twitter.com/NuVCmMBzGM

With the national team shirt he also shone and that is why the AFA message for the man who also has a stadium name was not lacking. Of course, the stadium in Córdoba, the old Chateau Carreras, has long been the Mario Alberto Kempes. Neither did the greeting of former teammates like Quique Wolff, with whom he had the pleasure of sharing the court and also the television studios when both became commentators on ESPN.

#SaludoAlbiceleste Mario Alberto Kempes, champion and scorer of the 1978 World Cup with the @Argentina National Team 🇦🇷🏆 pic.twitter.com/LJ8QTYiT0B is 6 cumple6⃣ today

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MARIO KEMPES !! KILLER HUG !! pic.twitter.com/BWXHCuqOVa