Doha (AP) – Jorge Valdano, the 1986 Argentine soccer world champion, spoke with great admiration of Lionel Messi and his relationships with world celebrities.
In an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, the 67-year-old football philosopher compared the current South American superstar to Diego Maradona. “Leo has an admirable level of self-control, which protects him from the consequences of a terrible life,” Valdano said.
Messi has nowhere to hide. “It doesn’t matter where, whether in Asia or in Arabia: he is always Messi. Even Diego suffered from it and I must say: I think it is more logical to end up like Maradona than to be like Messi”.
Maradona’s football career, crowned by the World Cup triumph together with Valdano, author of the 3-2 in the final against Germany, was also marked by scandals. The life of Maradona, who died two years ago, even more.
Messi, meanwhile, is virtually scandal-free, a father of three and married to his childhood sweetheart. Messi is only missing the World Cup in sporting terms, this Friday (8pm CET / ARD and MagentaTV) he will play against Argentina for a place in the semifinals, the opponents are Holland.
The team has ‘found the ecological balance’
There are reasons for Valdano why Messi seems happier, more relaxed and more enthusiastic these days in Qatar than in some of his previous four World Cup appearances. “The group. The happiness they feel. And the victory of the Copa America in Brazil 2021. It marks a before and after, for the team and above all for Leo”.
Almost a year and a half ago, the Argentines beat Brazil in the final in Rio, and Messi’s speech to the team before kick-off has long been legendary. It was his first major title with the senior national team.
Coach Lionel Scaloni “has no selection, but a team, that’s a huge difference. You can say they’ve found their ecological balance,” Valdano said. And Messi, now 35, has matured. “I feel like Leo has learned to enjoy things. He has to do with getting to the end of his career.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa:221208-99-834768/3
