In Qatar, Messi will usher in his last World Cup. Whether it is Maradona, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Cannavaro, Roberto Baggio or Cruyff, their last World Cup failed to end successfully, Messi can break such a curse ?
last dance of disappointment
In March 1994, three months before the opening of the World Cup, Maradona shocked the world again. In order to participate in the World Cup, the 34-year-old Maradona lost a full 12 kg.
Maradona said proudly, “I’m tired of those who say I’m fat and no longer the great Maradona. They will see the real Diego in the World Cup.” However, Maradona Maradona’s last dance at the World Cup ended in disaster, as Maradona was expelled from the World Cup because of drug use.
In addition to Maradona, Zidane bumped into Materazzi in the World Cup final and left the field red. Ronaldinho failed to score a goal in the World Cup in Germany. Hughes also lost to Germany after taking the lead in 2 minutes, and Cannavaro stopped the group stage.
In the World Cup, it is almost an unattainable goal for top stars to have a happy ending, which is enough to show how cruel the World Cup is.
The Young Marshal Creates the Strongest Blue and White Army
Unlike Maradona in 1994, Messi has returned to his peak form and is still playing for a giant team like Paris. In 1994, Maradona had returned to Argentina to play for Newell’s Old Boys.
However, there are similarities between them playing in the World Cup. For example, Argentina played in the 1994 World Cup as the defending champion of the Copa America, and it is the same this time. In the World Cup in the United States, the Blue and White Army has completed the renewal, Maradona’s champion teammates are running out, and now this Blue and White Army is the same, with very few players who participated in the last World Cup.
Not only that, but today’s Argentina is still an extremely united team. In the September match against Honduras, after Messi was fouled by his opponent, the Argentine players swarmed up, perfectly proving Messi’s status in the national team.
Argentina coach Scaloni once played with Messi in the 2006 World Cup, and assistant coach Aimar was Messi’s childhood idol. For Messi, today’s Blue and White is like a “band of brothers”. Just like in Barcelona back then, Messi now plays very comfortably in the national team.For Messi, “comfort” is the only condition for him to show his true strength.
Argentina have gone 36 games unbeaten in nearly three years, proving the value of letting Messi play comfortably.In these 36 games, Messi scored 23 goals and 9 assists in 30 appearances.In the 2021 Copa America, it is no accident that Messi won the Golden Boot, assists and Golden Ball.
The Blue and Whites were able to break the curse of not being able to win the championship, and Scaloni contributed a lot. In the 2018 World Cup, Scaloni, who served as Sampaoli’s assistant coach, witnessed a troubled dressing room.
At that time, Messi yelled at Sampaoli, “We didn’t get what we wanted, and the team no longer believes in you!” Chaotic tactics, employment and indifference to players were important reasons why Sampaoli lost the locker room.
After taking over the Nerazzurri, Scaloni kept communicating with the players. He hoped to understand the players, establish a brotherly relationship, and was ready to help the players at any time, which earned him the respect of the players.
Any blue and white team has outstanding strength, but Messi is also very clear that not every coach can build a united team.Scaloni is also very clear about this. He doesn’t want to be a star in the command area. Helping the team win is his only goal.
Under the coach’s strategizing, Messi’s talent and the unity of the players, the Nerazzurri became stronger and more perfect.
Messi who completed the final transformation
Despite winning the Ballon d’Or seven times and lifting the trophy 40 times, Messi remains a low-key player. Reticence is Messi’s character, which helps him stay away from more right and wrong. Even when he occasionally appears in the spotlight, Messi rarely creates controversy.
Therefore, the documentary filmed by the media of Argentina winning the America’s Cup has become a valuable resource for fans to learn about Messi. In the national team, Messi is always under more pressure.
Lionel Messi addresses his teammates ahead of the Copa America final against Brazil. This is Messi’s fourth final in the national team, and he doesn’t want to continue to lose.
He said to his teammates, “We all know what the game between Argentina and Brazil means, but I don’t want to talk about it anymore. What I want to say is thank you, thank you for your efforts in the past 45 days. Just like in my As I said on my birthday, we are a strong team.
“I’m proud of it, we’ve eaten together, we’ve slept together, we’ve locked ourselves in hotels for the past 45 days. We haven’t been able to see our families for the past 45 days. Dib (Damian Martinez) ) didn’t even see his newborn daughter, and Chino (Lucas-Martinez) only looked at his own son. We sacrificed so much, why on earth?”
“At this moment, we have the same goal, we are very close to it. So you know what is the most important? We decide for ourselves. Let’s walk on the pitch together, let’s lift the trophy together. We will Bring it back to Argentina to celebrate with family, friends and everyone who has always cheered for the team.”
“You know what, this tournament was supposed to be played in Argentina, but God brought it here so we can lift the trophy at the Maracanã and it’s going to be great. Now let’s go out there, more confident , more calm! We’ll take the trophy home!”
Messi’s every word is powerful, it seems that this is the first time we have heard Messi’s passionate speech in public.
Losing again and again allowed Messi to complete his transformation.He went from a player who would cry in the dressing room after a loss to a true captain who inspired his team.
Messi will not copy the old horse tragedy
In the first game of the 1994 World Cup, Argentina beat Greece 4-0. After hitting the wall with his teammates, Maradona scored a wonderful goal. Encouraged by Maradona, the Nerazzurri lost the decadent image of being defeated by Colombia 0-5 at home in the world preliminaries.
However, after Maradona was forced to withdraw from the World Cup, Argentina also fell into the abyss, losing to Romania in the first round of the knockout round.
In the 2022 World Cup, the Nerazzurri will not replicate such a tragedy.Messi is in a better state than Maradona and more calm than Maradona.
28 years ago, Argentina, which was not the favorite to win the championship, won the championship miraculously with Maradona alone. By 2022, the Blue and Whites have long been regarded as the favorites to win the championship, and Messi will also play in the World Cup in his peak form for the last time. Perhaps, he will usher in the real pinnacle of his career.