Genius cannot be explained.
And it doesn't get lost.
After a dull first season under the colors of PSG, Lionel Messi has regained his thrust and his unique gestures which allowed him to hold 7 Ballons d'Or.
“La Pulga”, his nickname which means the chip, still stings.
On the night of Friday to Saturday, he guided Argentina to victory against Honduras (3-0) in a friendly match played in Miami (United States).
The playmaker was behind the opener, scored two goals – including a jewel of an uncontrolled lob from around twenty meters – and was a permanent danger.
“This year is different, I arrived with a different spirit, confirmed the interested party after the match at the microphone of TyC Sports.
I feel good, I feel different from last year.
I knew it was going to be like this.
I have already said it.
I had a bad time, I never really found myself.
This year is different.
I arrived with a different head, more comfortable with the club, the locker room, my teammates, the game. The truth is that I feel very good.
I'm starting to have fun again.
»
As long as there is Messi.. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/gCsJcfCC31
— MoreZanFootball (@MoreZanFootball) September 24, 2022
And it shows.
At 35, he reminded everyone that he was not yet an Inter Miami player, David Beckham's club playing in MLS who would like to attract him to Florida after his adventure at Paris SG, but s he becomes one day, he will know that the fervor will not be feigned to see him play.
In a Hard Rock Stadium filled with 64,420 vibrant spectators like in Buenos Aires, Messi made sure to give them their money's worth, being in all the good moves of the Albiceleste, now unbeaten in 34 games, and who s is imposed without flinching and could even have made the bill more salty for Hondurans.
His brilliant inspiration with an uncontrolled lob about twenty meters from the opposing cages, after an interception by Enzo Fernandez who had just come into play, was a model of inspiration, ease and technical mastery, for the third goal of his team (69th) then ultra-dominant.
His 88th achievement in 163 selections.
He thought he had scored the hat-trick in the 85th minute, taking the ball acrobatically in the area, but he narrowly missed the target.
Untenable, Messi was also the target of a shoulder blow as violent as it is illicit from Deybi Flores, rightly warned by the referee (20th).
Which gave rise to an additional clash among others in this particularly tense first act.
📊 Messi 2022🔥
34 official games
19 goals
22 assists (20 opta)
118 dribbles
88 chances created (25 big)
71 balls won back
15 man of the match#LoanWatch
📊 Messi 2022/23
12 official games
8 goals
9 assists (8 opta )
45 dribbles
32 chances created (12 big)
8 man of the match pic.twitter.com/PUOUitJlna
— .
(@barcastat) September 24, 2022
With this excellent performance, Messi confirmed that he was going through a good period, interviewed in the jersey of PSG since the start of the season, where he has already scored 6 goals and distributed 8 assists in 11 games in all competitions.
Enough to keep the dreams of Argentine fans alive two months before the World Cup in Qatar, where their team will face Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland in Group C. Until then, the Argentines will play another game preparatory against Jamaica, Tuesday in Harrison (New Jersey).
With a new Messi festival?
