Argentina legend Lionel Messi to retire after World Cup final on Sunday in Qatar as champion makes the biggest announcement the world was dreading
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Lionel Messi
The news that football fans were dreading has been confirmed. Hours after Lionel Messi piloted Argentina to the final of the FIFA World Cup, the Argentine hero has confirmed he is retiring from international football. On Tuesday night, Messi turned in a star act with Julián Álvarez as Argentina whipped Croatia 3-0 at the Lusail Stadium.
Hours later, speaking to the Argentine media, Messi confirmed this World Cup will be his last wave, the final hurrah. Speaking to Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole after Argentina’s win, Messi confirmed his retirement plans and said that Sunday’s summit clash will be his last game for the football giants from Latin America.
“I feel very happy to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final. It’s many years for the next one and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it’s the best,” Messi told Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole.
This is the second FIFA World Cup final for Messi, and the timing of his retirement could not have been better. He has been rated as the successor to legend Diego Maradona, who passed away two years ago. In club football, Messi has been king. For Argentina, he has been talismanic, putting in five appearances in the World Cup. The big trophy awaits him on Sunday, billions are praying for it.
The way he performed against Croatia in the semi-final in tandem with Álvarez was devastating. It brought the Messi class and firepower to the fore as to how one man can capture the entire attention in a team sport. His performance was literally like being on fire. At 35, he is going full throttle, and that has made him so dear to everyone who watches him.
Messi will go flat out to win the World Cup for Argentina irrespective of who wins the second semi-final between France and Morocco
They call it the last fling, the last hurrah, the final flicker. Messi does not know against which team he will be competing in the final. Hardly matters, as he has shown that when he has the ball at his feet, producing feats is no big deal. The goals he has scored in the World Cup give him a status that only legends have.
Messi’s 11 goals and 8 assists in the World Cup are gigantic. It puts him among the pantheons, and the entire population of Argentina plus billions of fans are praying his last match will win him the World Cup. It is one trophy missing from his cabinet and bio data. One thing is sure, by announcing retirement at the right time, Messi has taken the pressure off himself.
He does not want to be performing for the nation when he knows age is catching up. Messi conceals the 35 years of age with his classic skills and left foot magic. The penalty bursts are worth raving about each time and viewing multiple times. Will he be missed? That is stating the obvious. Will he be remembered as the GOAT (Greatest of all Time), the debate can rage on.
Football fans are in a daze! They saw Messi dazzle a few hours ago. To pack up from Qatar and hang up the white and blue No.10 jersey will be painful. Maybe the No.10 jersey should be retired by Argentina, forever. What will Messi do in the last few days with Team Argentina, well? He will be a relieved man. And that will be dangerous as he will scorch the turf in the final. He will take all physio sessions and massages and be ready for the final burst in Qatar. Imagine, Leo Messi will be gone in a few days from the Argentina team. Cruel, isn’t it?
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S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)