A lot of people overlooked that with Messi
Wears Messi: violation of the rules!
The entire football world was watching Lionel Messi as he celebrated his greatest triumph. A touching detail about Argentina’s World Cup win made the rounds just days after the final.
Lionel Messi made an almost supernatural appearance at the World Cup in Qatar, but in the end the superstar among superstars is just a footballer.
And footballers are superstitious. Yes, even a handyman like Messi. (NEWS: Messi emotion: ‘There were moments…’)
A photo shared by the 35-year-old from the dressing room after Argentina’s exhilarating World Cup win is proof of that. You can see there: Messi is wearing a narrow red band around his left ankle. It is a very special lucky charm. (NEWS: Everything you need to know about the World Cup)
What initially went largely unnoticed suddenly conjured up memories of a touching story just days after the finale. A story that dates back more than four years ago. (NEWS: The ‘Unfinished’ Is Finally Over – Messi’s Coronation!)
“My mother loves you more than me”
At the 2018 World Cup, when Argentina lost to this year’s last opponents France in the round of 16, Messi appeared before the assembled journalists after the first group match. The World Cup started with an unexpected loss of points against Iceland (1-1). (NEWS: Argentina vs Holland – a photo goes around the world)
Argentine journalist Rama Pantarotto told Messi in the catacombs of the stadium: “My mother loves you more than me. She told me to give you this. I wear this red ribbon as a lucky charm. If you want, I can give it to you.” (News: Messi’s goal was illegal!)
Messi accepted with a shy smile. He met the journalist again after the third group match, in which Messi shone with an important goal to advance to the next round. (NEWS: The best footballers in history)
Not only Messi wears the lucky charm
When asked about his lucky charm, Messi replied with a big smile: “I’ll show you something,” he said, pulling down his left sock. Below you can see the thin red ribbon. Pantarotto was completely out of his mind. Stunned, he stammered in front of the camera: “Mom, Messi wore it! He wore it Messi!”
And he still wears it today. (NEWS: World Cup top scorer decided)
It is not entirely certain whether it is exactly the same tape. But the superstar has never forgotten the gesture. On the contrary: since 2018, several of Messi’s teammates have also been spotted with a red armband. In Qatar, it was the case of Rodrigo de Paul, Lautaro Martínez and Emiliano Martínez, among others.
For many, if any, a small detail. Except for superstitious footballers. (NEWS: Messi apparently clarifies future)
