Messi’s last World Cup tango calls for the coronation

The ravages of time are also gnawing at Lionel Messi. At least that’s the self-assessment of the 35-year-old soccer star, who, after beating Croatia 3-0 in the World Cup semifinals, hinted that Sunday’s final will be his last appearance in a finals. This makes “La Pulga” tick differently than Cristiano Ronaldo (38), who, despite slipping into the reserve role, still has the confidence to play an important role in the Portuguese national team at EURO 2024 in Germany.

Messi, who grabbed his hamstrings several times in the first half of the game but then held out brilliantly without any problems, is preparing to become the sole World Cup record player with his 26th appearance. He currently holds the record with Lothar Matthäus.

Messi considers it unlikely that he will take part in the 2026 World Cup. “It’s four years until then. I don’t think it will be enough for me. To end it like this is the best thing,” said the Paris SG legionnaire, who will be awarded – after that of 2014 (0:1 against Germany) – no nervousness to be seen.

He is focused, brims with enthusiasm and, after a successful mission, dances enthusiastically across the lawn in front of the noisy supporters. In his six tournament games to date, in which Messi has hit the bull’s eye five times, he has been named Man of the Match four times.

It’s getting tight in the showcase, which should still have room for awards for the best player in the World Cup, maybe also for the most successful goalscorer and of course for the gold medal and trophy, which Messi really wants to lift.

“We can enjoy it now”

Together with Julian Alvarez (22), who strikes for Manchester City at club level, “King Leo” forms an unbeatable offensive duo. The two of them took apart the Croatians, who ultimately had no chance, with three scorer points each using all the rules of the art. Above all, the way Messi prepared the 3-0 made football aesthetes click their tongues.

The exceptional player’s dribbling on the right wing, garnished with the advance into the penalty area and the final pass to Alvarez, caused standing ovations and long-drawn-out “Meeeeesssi, Meeeeessi” chants.

In the stands, the superstar’s clan was over the moon – above all Ciro, Messi’s youngest son. All that’s missing now is the happy ending, of which the Argentine people are firmly convinced. After the final whistle, there was no stopping the streets of Buenos Aires, where tens of thousands had gathered around the obelisk. Team boss Lionel Scaloni was also moved, he shed tears of joy.

“We can now enjoy it, it was incredibly fun to get this far. We will prepare well and try to take the last step,” said Messi, whose Qatar trip had started unfavorably. And with a 1-2 defeat against Saudi Arabia. Nobody talks about that anymore, now there is pure euphoria.

Messi is the sixth player, after Salvatore Schillaci, Roberto Baggio, Hristo Stoichkov, Davor Suker and Wesley Sneijder, to have scored in the World Cup round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals since the 1986 modus operandi. This can also be taken as a bad omen. Because none of his predecessors subsequently won the title. Messi would be the first.

“Scandalous Penalty”

Croatia’s frustration after the 3-0 defeat by Argentina was vented to Italian referee Daniele Orsato. The stumbling block was the penalty decision in the 32nd minute, which swung the pendulum in favor of the “Albiceleste”. Julian Alvarez had run into goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic during his advance, the latter could not vanish in the Croatian diction.

Mateo Kovacic, who was born in Linz, received a yellow card for criticism: “This penalty kick beat us,” the 28-year-old Chelsea legionnaire would later say. “I never commented on the referees, but those are cardinal mistakes that cost us the final.” Assistant coach Mario Mandzukic even saw the red card – unnoticed by the TV cameras.

The Croatian sports magazine “Sportske novosti” wrote of a “scandalous penalty kick” that was preceded by a corner that was not awarded (for the Croatians). Superstar Luka Modric (37) does not want to resign. He has his sights set on EURO 2024.

author

Alexander Zambarloukos

Sports Editor

a.zambarloukos@nachrichten.at

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