Opinion The skinny boy from Rosario who won the World Cup - Messi, the proof that there is no one else but him Israel today

The heart is still beating powerfully and the thoughts are still running, this after Messi, the almost exclusive man (the couple's Sabbath won't kill me, eh?) who is responsible for all the moments of happiness in my life - lifts the World Cup.

In 2005 I was exposed to the phenomenon.

A few days before the start of the season in Spain, Barcelona held the traditional game named after the club's founder, Juan Gamper.

The opponent was Juventus, the champion of Italy.

A young man with the number 30 on his back played in the Barça team.

Fabio Capello, Juve's coach, who has already seen almost everything in his long career, did not really know the boy.

But during the 90 minutes the great Italian coach was caught several times with his jaw dropped and a look of astonishment in his eyes.

Won the Spanish league.

Messi in 2012, photo: AFP

"I've never seen anything like this," Capello said after the game.

"I have never seen such a young player demonstrate such ability, and what's more in a huge stadium filled with 90,000 spectators."

It wasn't just Capello who was elated at that moment.

As a die-hard Barcelona fan, it was clear to me that I was contracting something unique, powerful.

Precisely as one who saw Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and others juggling on the field - everything suddenly seemed different, too good. 

The dream that became reality

The years passed and my vision became a reality.

Messi became a monster, an alien, a genius - every other superlative that was (rightly) applied to him during his career.

But there was always an asterisk, a monkey on the back that refused to get off, and that is of course winning a title with the team.

Millions of Argentines and Messi fans eagerly hoped and hoped that he would lift the world cup, that they could consider him a god along with Maradona - but the hopes went down the drain time after time. 

turned into a monster.

Messi at the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London, May 28, 2011, photo: Reuters

In 2014 it almost happened.

Argentina reached the final in Marcana under the guidance of the late Alejandro Javier Sabella.

Messi celebrated 27 three days after defeating Iran in injury time and before scoring a brace against Nigeria to ensure the Albiceleste once again finished the group stage with only wins.

The flea was at his peak, after historic and wonderful seasons at the Camp Nou, and according to all estimates this was supposed to be his tournament.

But Germany - it's her again!

- Ruined the dream.

Gonzalo Higuain has missed too much, but the bottom line is clear.

Messi, who stood out in almost every parameter and was named the best player in the tournament, received the award with a sad face after Mario Getze's goal in overtime.

A tournament that will not be remembered well.

Messi at the end of the match against Iceland in 2018, photo: AFP

In 2018, the phenomenon already celebrated his 31st birthday three days after the 3:0 defeat to Croatia, and a week after he missed a penalty in a 1:1 draw against Iceland in Moscow.

Messi did score again against Nigeria, and the dramatic victory lifted Argentina to the round of 16, but it was a weak tournament for him personally, and some made sure to eulogize him in the international arena.

The image was reversed

And there you have it, we are in 2022, and the picture has turned 180 degrees.

For starters, he won the Copa America a year ago.

The flea celebrated his 34th birthday in Brazil, in a strange tournament held in empty stadiums - but perhaps it actually helped Argentina break the long drought that had lasted since 1993. The players, who played alongside Messi, were not ashamed to say that this victory was for him.

Something that is not obvious to say when you play for the national team.

This was, of course, the moment when the belief that it was possible to win the World Cup became very strong.

Messi after the signing in Paris Saint-Germain, photo: Reuters

Since then, Messi has had time to go through a shake-up in his glorious career, after leaving his youth club Barcelona, ​​following extensive financial moves made by the Catalans.

According to them, they could not afford to extend the Argentinian's contract within the terms set by the Spanish league.

Arrived on time 

Messi recalculated a course without any choice, and chose the team that is closest to achieving his goals - Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi didn't have to make an effort to win the French championship, and it was hard to see sparks in his eyes in the Champions League as well, especially when the team succumbed in a sensational scenario to Real Madrid in the round of 16.

From the sidelines, it was hard to see the genius who swept football - forced to play second fiddle to Mbappe.

The past season ended with a dismal record for Messi in a PSG uniform - only 6 league goals and 11 goals in all competitions, but it doesn't really matter, because in the national team he gave his best.

At the beginning of the month, he provided a superior performance in a 3:0 win over Italy at Wembley, in a battle between the South American and European champions.

The flea danced on the pitch, scored twice and deserved his own goal as well.

The beginning of November and the head thinks only of one thing.

Messi must bring the World Cup home.

Started with an embarrassing loss.

Messi against Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup, photo: AFP

Before the tournament started Messi even said it was important to win the first game to avoid pressure.

so he said

Argentina lost the first game to Saudi Arabia in one of the biggest surprises in the competition's history.

The mountain of expectations became a pressure monster.

From there on we must win every game.

must

If we tell the truth.

It was not an easy month.

Because of the pleasure he gave me for most of my adult life, my great love for Messi brings with it a great emotional investment.

This mountain of stress completely disrupted me.

Messi appeared time after time, scored, cooked and carried Argentina to the quarter-finals against the Netherlands.

I got to see the dramatic victory actually on the soil of the Netherlands on a trip.

An hour before the start of the game and I'm just landing.

I reluctantly dragged my partner with the luggage to the hotel, and God forbid I won't miss a minute.

always there

Messi scores the third against France, photo: Getty Images

She went through the moments of great happiness with me, that Argentina leads 2-0, and she also shared with me the abysses of disappointment after the Netherlands equalized in the 101st minute, to take the game to extra time.

And then crazy tension in the penalties at the end of which we left happy.

She celebrated the emotional victory with me and was even horrified by my screams after Messi's genius cook (how did he do that?).

These moments will go with him and me for life.

This is a line that is written with teary eyes.

All the build up written here led to an iconic final game.

Argentina against France, the two best teams in the tournament.

Almost 80 minutes an impressive lead to a heroic win.

But moped, did we already say?

A crash that almost led to Mbappe's second win with an incredible 2:2.

Back to life, Messi proved that justice must be done, scoring the 3:2 in overtime.

On the other side, France does not give up again and equalizes 3:3 with an uncharacteristic mistake by the veteran Otamendi.

Not caught!

Moving on to penalties.

Rivers of words were poured mostly on Leo Messi after Argentina's win, and rightly so.

But in the penalty shootout, Emiliano Martinez stood out - again.

The Aston Villa keeper stepped up once again, and was responsible for one of France's two misses (he saved Kingsley Coman's penalty) - en route to waving to Messi - and the world - so expected.

tears of happiness.

Messi waving the trophy, photo: GettyImages

runs out.

shock.

crying.

Tears of happiness flow when the first call is to the partner, who had to be at work due to circumstances, and faced the burst of emotions that flooded me in an instant. 

This is the most beautiful story ever written.

Thank God I was a witness.

Such a story only above can write, even the biggest atheist will say.

Now I can sit back and finally enjoy football with peace of mind, knowing what the end is.

Just remember, the most important thing!

One day, not long from now, your grandchildren will not believe you saw Messi.

He was the best ever and by far, they will tell you.

And your ear, which was used for so many years to hear, "but the World Cup", "but the knockout", "but Maradona", will wait and wait, and the "but" will not come.

Then remember that the "but" was and is no more.

He died and was buried in a flea burial at the 2022 World Cup.

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