After the World Cup final, Lionel Messi has received harsh words even from statesmen. Argentina’s head coach does not want to give up his star player, even though the next World Cup is four years away.
14:14•Updated 14:15
The World Cup of football was held in Argentina and Lionel Messi’s games.
The Qatar Games were thought to be the last in which Messi, 35, still has a chance at a world title. As captain, Messi led Argentina to the World Cup and in addition won the best player award of the games.
Messi broke records in the tournament. The final was the Argentinian’s 26th career World Cup final tournament match, and thanks to it he moved to the top of the list of the most games played alone, ahead of Germany Lothar Matthäuswho had 25 games in his career.
When Messi put Argentina into a 1–0 lead, he became the first player in World Cup history to score in every single playoff match of a final tournament.
Messi succeeded in practically everything at the World Cup. So it’s no wonder that Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scanoli wants to hold on to the 35-year-old striker.
– Now it feels like we have to save him a place for the next World Cup. Even if they are in 2026, Argentina’s head coach Scanoli says at the event after the match.
– He can keep the number 10 shirt as long as he wants, Scaloni continues.
Messi had said before the World Cup final that this would be his last match at the World Cup level.
After the final, Messi said that he will continue for some time in the national team, but did not say how long. Messi would be 39 years old at the World Cup held four years from now. In that case, he could break more records.
– I think he has the right to decide what he does in his career and in the national team. He has nothing left to prove, not that he had any before. He never had anything to prove to me, Scanoli states.
Recognition and gloria
In Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, the atmosphere was high throughout the games, but the people were even more happy when the world championship was confirmed. The national celebration also aroused emotions in heads of state, such as the President of Argentina In Alberto Fernández and vice president in Cristina Kirchner.
– Always together. We are world champions. There are no more words. Thank you, said the president’s tweet.
– Many thanks, captain, to you, the team and the coaching staff for the immense joy you have given the Argentine people, tweeted Kirchner after the World Cup final.
The football legend also gave his speech Pelewhich praised football and the stars of the World Cup.
– Football continued to tell its story today, as always, in a fascinating way. Lionel Messi won his first World Cup, as his development curve deserved. My dear friend Kylian Mbappe scored four goals in the final. What a gift I had to attend this show for the future of our sport. I can’t help but congratulate Morocco on their incredible run at the World Cup. It’s great to see Africa shine. Diego (Maradona) must be smiling now.
Pelé also counted the penalty shootout among Mbappe’s goals.
Indeed, the final of this year’s World Cup was a battle between Messi and Mbappe. Messi won this round, but four years later, Mbappe has a new seam. Who knows, maybe Messi will still be there.