After losing the World Cup final in 2014, Lionel Messi went through tough times that kept him up at night
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Lionel Messi
Since his professional football debut with FC Barcelona in 2003, Lionel Messi has gone on to create history in the sport. In his 19-year career that is still going on, the Argentinian has won several accolades and is a 7-time recipient of the Balon d’Or. With his teams, Messi has won almost everything he could lay his hands on. However, the only blemish on his record is the prestigious World Cup.
Lionel Messi has featured for Argentina in four (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018) World Cups. But, the Argentinian star has never been successful in winning any. The closest Messi came to winning the prestigious tournament was in 2014 when Argentina reached the finals and played against Germany. In what was a hard-fought game, Germany won the match 1-0, courtesy of a 113th-minute goal by Mario Gotze.
While this defeat impacted every Argentinian, Lionel Messi had struggles coping with it. In an interview, the 35-year-old’s former agent Fabiano Soldini spoke about how the 2014 World Cup final loss impacted Messi. He said, “When I was at his house, after 10 years of not seeing him, he told me ‘Fabi, I’ve been waking up at night thinking about the final in Brazil for a year. I can’t sleep. And I can tell you that. It goes round and round in his head” [H/T Marca]
For a patriot like Messi who loves to compete, a defeat like the one in 2014 is indeed tough. However, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the PSG star will look to become world champion with Argentina. While the journey toward a World Cup win will be difficult, Messi and Argentina are known to triumph over adversity. Last year too, the 35-year-old and his national team ended a long trophy drought.
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Lionel Messi won the Copa America with Argentina in 2021
Even before Lionel Messi could taste defeat in the finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 7-time Balon d’Or winner had already experienced finals defeat. In 2007, Argentina played Brazil in the Copa America finals. While the men in blue and white tried their best, Brazil dominated Argentina and won the game 3-0.
Even in further editions of the Copa America, Lionel Messi couldn’t revive himself. Argentina lost two consecutive Copa America finals in 2015, and 2016, and the most heartbreaking loss for Messi was the one in 2016. Facing Chile in the finals, the match went on penalties. And when it mattered the most, Messi failed to deliver as he missed from the spot. Eventually, Argentina went on to lose 4-2 on penalties.
While Lionel Messi shed tears after this defeat, in 2021, the PSG star realized his international dream with Argentina after guiding his team to a Copa America victory. Messi and the Argentinian team showcased a brilliant display of football in the group stages and knockout stages. For the finals of the tournament, Argentina squared off against rivals Brazil. In what was revenge from 2007, the men in blue and white beat Brazil 1-0 to be crowned Copa America champions.
Messi, who was adjudged the player of the tournament, felt ecstatic about winning the Copa America. After the victory, he said, “I have peace of mind of having achieved the dream that has been denied to me so many times. It was like a dream, a spectacular moment. I couldn’t believe it had happened. I enjoy watching the images now more than at the time as I was in a daze. I didn’t quite understand what was happening.” Now with less than two weeks remaining for the World Cup in Qatar, Lionel Messi will look to give it his all and win the tournament for Argentina, in what would be his last dance.
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Varun Anand Bhat
(106 Articles Published)