The stakes could not be higher as Lionel Messi enters his second and most likely final World Cup final.
The same is true for Argentina, which has endured more than 30 years of heartbreak since its last championship in soccer.
In order for Messi to finally hold the one significant prize that has escaped him throughout his illustrious career, success versus France at Lusail Stadium on Sunday is crucial.
In the ongoing competition between the two greatest players of their generation, he would surpass Cristiano Ronaldo, who also has never won a World Cup.
While Ronaldo, 37, was benched by Portugal in the quarterfinals and in tears, undoubtedly realizing that his last chance had passed, Messi is calling up some of his best performances while wearing an Argentina jersey to motivate his nation’s march to the championship game.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni remarked, “He makes us and the players feel something unique every time we see him play. “Not just Argentines like him; people like something about him.
We are grateful and honored to have him wear our shirt.
Messi has long been considered one of Argentina’s two most recognizable soccer players, along with Diego Maradona. But he hasn’t yet accomplished what Maradona did best by guiding his nation’s squad to a World Cup victory.
Since breaking out at Barcelona as a prodigy about 20 years ago, Messi has lived with the expectation of duplicating Maradona’s accomplishment, which he accomplished in Mexico in 1986.
During that time, many false hopes have been raised.
In South Africa in 2010, there was a potential “dream team” with Maradona as the head coach and Messi as the star player. Germany defeated Argentina 4-0, though, and Argentina was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Argentina made it to the Brazilian championship in 2014, as Messi was getting close to his prime.
It once more faced Germany. Messi lost once more, this time by a score of 1-0 after extra time.
He understood, at the age of 35, that this was likely to be his final opportunity to play in the World Cup, and he rose to the occasion by tying France forward Kylian Mbappe for the lead with five goals.
His assists, such as the covert pass that Nahuel Molina used to score against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, may have been more notable.
Then came his captivating run, which completely disoriented Croatia’s defender Josko Gvardiol before setting up Julian Alvarez to score Argentina’s third in the semifinals.
Gvardiol added on Thursday, “It’s at least something I can share (about) with my kids one day that I guarded this amazing, wonderful player.
Those assists have served as evidence that Messi is no longer able to accomplish this on his own. With four goals, Alvarez’s ascent has been crucial to Argentina’s development.
Messi no longer completely controls a game for 90 minutes. Instead, he selects games that include crucial moments.
Although he isn’t as exciting as he once was, he has had more of an impact this World Cup than at any of his previous four.
Argentina is hoping to end its lengthy wait for a third World Cup, while Messi is attempting to complete his personal trophy collection. He has already won four Champions League championships and seven Ballon d’Or accolades as the best player in the world.
With Maradona’s help, it won the event for the first time when it served as host in 1978, and then once more eight years later.
Long before now, Messi was supposed to perform that accomplishment.
How long will Argentina have to wait if he leaves without ever winning the World Cup?
It is understandable why there is such a flurry of passion with each instance of Messi magic and each victory.
Argentina supporters, who have lit up the tournament in a sea of blue and white in Qatar, are becoming more and more eager. Messi is fostering the idea that this might be their moment once more.
If this is his final tour, he has taken his fans on an exciting journey.
Scaloni has no doubts about Messi’s standing as the greatest player ever, World Cup or no World Cup.
He claimed that because saying that is extremely Argentinian, “it seems like we just say it because we’re Argentinians and we fall into the trap of being selfish.” But I firmly believe that there are none.
