1/8
With one assist and two penalties, Messi steered Argentina to a narrow victory against the Netherlands in the round of 16.
Michael WegmanS. Football manager
Lionel Messi still needs two victories to top it all off. At his fifth (!) and final World Cup, the now 35-year-old genius astounded the footballing world and thrilled his fellow Argentines like never before. The world title would put Messi on par with legend Maradona. «Diego looks at us from the sky and pushes us. I hope he stays like this until the end », said Messi after the penalty against the Netherlands.
“Messi’s pass to Molina to make it 1-0 was fantastic,” enthused Carlos Bernegger. The Swiss-Argentine dual citizen, who most recently coached FC Thun, has been very impressed with Messi’s performances so far. “He plays in half position, catches many balls, relieves his teammates immensely and also puts them in the spotlight more than before. While he’s not as fast at 35, he’s still just as productive. Messi is the art of football: effective and beautiful…”
Excels on the pitch. Off the field, however, these days in Qatar he is dribbled into the hearts of all the country people. Discard the unapproachable, show unusual emotions. Messi provokes when he celebrates a goal. Messi interrupts an interview to snap Dutchman Weghorst on camera. “What are you looking at, idiot? Get away!”
“Messi proves he’s flesh and blood”
Where are the good manners and etiquette he was taught at the Barcelona football academy “La Masia”? The six-time world footballer and mother-in-law’s favorite acts like a street footballer in Qatar. “He has become Messi Maradoniana,” says Bernegger, “and all of Argentina loves him for that. He shows emotions, he’s outgoing. He too shows he’s flesh and blood and you really feel that he’s passionate about Argentina.”
This is how Messi’s World Cup career went
Lionel Messi (35) has been chasing this world title throughout his career. When he captured the Under-20 World Cup crown with Argentina in 2005 and also won Olympic gold in 2008, there was no doubt that his exceptional talent would soon lift the World Cup trophy at the adult level.
But now Messi is playing in his fifth World Cup – so far he has always failed. At his premiere in Germany in 2006, he scored in his first World Cup match against Serbia. But as Messi is only a substitute player alongside Crespo, Aimar, Saviola and Tevez, he sits on the bench in the penalty spot in the quarter-final against Germany.
The Germans remain Messi’s World Cup nightmare. 2010 in South Africa “La Pulga” is already a world star, but remains goalless. Argentina, coached by Diego Maradona, lost 4-0 to DFB in the quarterfinals.
2014 in Brazil, Germany stops Messi in the final. Since his non-title trauma manifested itself in two more Copa America final losses, he even resigned from the national team in 2016.
He returned at the 2018 World Cup, but the eventual world champion returned at the end. France knocked out Messi and co with a dramatic 4:3 in the round of 16. There are rumors of resignation. But Messi continues. And he now he can crown himself in Qatar. (md)
Lionel Messi (35) has been chasing this world title throughout his career. When he captured the Under-20 World Cup crown with Argentina in 2005 and also won Olympic gold in 2008, there was no doubt that his exceptional talent would soon lift the World Cup trophy at the adult level.
But now Messi is playing in his fifth World Cup – so far he has always failed. At his premiere in Germany in 2006, he scored in his first World Cup match against Serbia. But as Messi is only a substitute player alongside Crespo, Aimar, Saviola and Tevez, he sits on the bench in the penalty spot in the quarter-final against Germany.
The Germans remain Messi’s World Cup nightmare. 2010 in South Africa “La Pulga” is already a world star, but remains goalless. Argentina, coached by Diego Maradona, lost 4-0 to DFB in the quarterfinals.
2014 in Brazil, Germany stops Messi in the final. Since his non-title trauma manifested itself in two more Copa America final losses, he even resigned from the national team in 2016.
He returned at the 2018 World Cup, but the eventual world champion returned at the end. France knocked out Messi and co with a dramatic 4:3 in the round of 16. There are rumors of resignation. But Messi continues. And he now he can crown himself in Qatar. (md)
How much Argentina burns for him can be seen in 30 minutes. That’s how long it takes before all the T-shirts that read “Qué mira, Bobo?” (What are you looking at, idiot) are out of stock. A fashion chain started producing these shirts the night after the quarterfinals.
Even before the quarter-final against the Netherlands, Messi surprised his country, says Bernegger. Even thinner. “In interviews, he suddenly gave insight into his emotional world, talked about private things like his family. He’s never done that before.”
“The fluency of his young colleagues is good for Messi”
Even if the pressure on him must be tremendous, Messi seems happy and not stubborn. There are a number of reasons, says Bernegger, “For example, for the first time in a World Cup, his kids are sitting in the stands and seeing what their dad is actually doing,” he says. Or: “It also seems that the Copa final victory over Brazil has taken a lot of weight off his shoulders.” E: «Messi has a new generation of players around him. Young men like Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez keep things relaxed and occasionally joke around. You can see how well Messi is doing.”
Messi and his companions remind Bernegger of the 1986 world champion team around Maradona. “Stand in solidarity, don’t let setbacks lead you off course, and you’ve got superstar in the ranks…” Does the title work? Bernegger: I hope so. But first comes the semifinal. And we Argentines saw how strong Croatia are when they lost 3-0 at the 2018 World Cup.”
