From Parisian whistles to Argentine ovations
.
From another hard defeat in a Paris Saint-Germain that falters and does not give confidence to continue celebrating the most important and most desired title of his life with his country.
From the criticisms of the press and some French referents who unfairly point him out as one of those responsible for this gray present from
Christophe Galtier
's team to the recognition of all of Argentina.
Without scales.
Lionel Messi
got off the plane that made him cross the Atlantic on Monday and changed his climate, mood and countenance.
The captain of the National Team lives
his happiest days in his homeland as he is the center of excessive love
by the albiceleste fans who declare their total devotion to him.
And Leo lets himself be touched by those caresses that sweeten his soul.
A snack of what will be the party this Thursday at the Monumental
.
Far from hiding, from keeping in the privacy of his family, from avoiding any type of exposure, from sneaking out the back door, Messi surrenders to the irrepressible demonstrations of affection from the Argentines, who go crazy when they find out that the best player in the world He went to eat like another mortal with his family at a Buenos Aires grill.
Leo, with his parents and siblings, plus Adrián Suar, dined Monday night at the Don Julio restaurant, which offers a menu with the best meats and wines from this land.
He went in and out through the main entrance, like any other diner, although he revolutionized the place and the entire Palermo neighborhood.
The corner was populated with people who began to crowd waiting to see his idol.
Messi stayed until after midnight in the cellar room of the place, where there is a table for 12 diners.
It is a more reserved sector
.
When he left, instead of being stunned by the human tide that was yelling at him and asking for photos, autographs and just to touch his hand, the Rosario native drew a huge smile on his face and sank into the crowd, escorted by security personnel.
He waved, laughed, was surprised.
He enjoyed it.
And that, after all, is what Messi is finally doing for some time now and markedly after winning the Copa América and the World Cup: enjoying what he has to live with the National Team.
“What is happening to him seems beautiful to me because he deserves all that love. He needs to see that his people love him. He will stay forever
, ”said
Lionel Scaloni
at a press conference when asked about this furor around La Pulga.
And yes, even the most successful in this sport needs to feel loved.
But for Leo, this affection, this recognition, is special because it comes from his people, from the Argentines.
Photo: Fernando de la Orden / Clarin
He suffered so much. He suffered so much
.
So many times he was left without knowing what to answer to his eldest son Thiago when he asked him “why are they killing you in Argentina, dad”.
And, although those who killed him with stark criticism of his performances in the National Team were not part of the vast majority to the point that they even questioned what he felt about the light blue and white shirt, they were the ones that reached him the most. and they hurt Messi in those years in which fate seemed determined not to let him win something with the AFA shield on his chest.
He endured so much that now, that those voices are no longer heard, he allows himself to relax and not deprive himself of receiving with open arms all the fury that is generated around him.
He also does it inside the Ezeiza property, together with his fellow champions and those who joined in this call for Scaloni, who is already thinking about what is to come.
Leo last enters the second practice of the week this Tuesday, the penultimate before the friendly against Panama, which will be nothing more and nothing less than his first presentation together with the national team as world champion.
Photo: Fernando de la Orden / Clarín
He comes walking, relaxed, just chatting with the masseur and confidant Dady and the physical trainer Luis Martín.
Rodrigo De Paul
,
Angel Di María
,
Giovani Lo Celso
,
Nicolás Otamendi
and the rest of the members of La Scaloneta are
already waiting for him on the pitch .
On the outside of the AFA premises, a group of fans with posters, t-shirts and photos accumulates waiting to be able to see him, even if it is in the past.
Excessive security does not give up.
Meanwhile, Messi obeys the teacher's orders.
He runs, dodges cones, touches the ball.
Suddenly, he builds the classic "crazy", but this time it is 34 players, giant.
Everyone waits for the captain to start the game.
Lionel puts it under his left footed sole, kneads it a little and makes the first pass.
Applause, laughter, claps.
That is not new for him and for this Scaloni Selection.
That has already been lived since before the 2021 Copa América. That was lived in Qatar and that continues to be lived in this reunion.
Photo: Fernando de la Orden / Clarín
What is new is the background image that offers the entrance to the stadium concentration and that from time to time the footballers look sideways with satisfaction: the huge photo of Messi in the black cape lifting the World Cup with all his teammates around .
It is the eternal postcard of the eternal glory that they reached in the Middle East.
This is how Lionel Messi spends his days on his return to the country.
Far from the spicy atmosphere of the Parque de los Príncipes and the depressed dressing room of PSG;
immersed in the good vibes of the National Team, which continues to celebrate and warns that he will go for more, and delivered to the excessive love of the Argentines, the most beautiful prize.
look too
Scaloni, in the preview of Argentina vs. Panama: what he said to Messi and the players in the reunion and the pride for the third star
Lionel Scaloni revealed what he said to Javier Mascherano for his departure as coach of the Argentina Under 20 National Team
Scaloni's forceful response to the call of Mateo Retegui to the Italian National Team
The Selection, partying at the Monumental: with Wos and La K'onga, what the show will be like for the world champions
Dibu Martínez showed a new haircut dedicated to the World Cup in the preview of the friendly of the National Team
El Diablito Echeverri, the U17 boy who fulfilled the dream of training with Messi in the Argentine National Team
Argentina vs Panama: the police seized tickets, cell phones and money from resellers of the National Team match