Who will be the lucky ones to get Lionel Messi’s jerseys tonight in Qatar?
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Lionel Messi
There is a bit of Lionel Messi in all football fans. According to conservative estimates, the No.10 blue and white jersey has been sold for billions around the world, even though it’s not franchised. It does not matter if you are there at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar or not, by now, most fans have already collected their Messi memorabilia.
Sample this, in India alone, the number of Messi, CR7, and Neymar jerseys, sold like hotcakes. Football fever has peaked and normalcy should be restored tonight in the next few hours after the finale between Argentina and France. Who wins or loses is not the point, Qatar has become a farewell destination of sorts, just as Serena Williams made New York her final farewell venue at the US Open. Serena did not get too far in the draw but Messi has coasted into the World Cup final.
The sound of camera motors whirring, non-stop, flashbulbs popping every second, cell phone cameras being used every minute in the 90-minute regulation match, all this is going to focus big time on Messi. One man has made the FIFA final into a personal farewell, just by sheer timing. It’s almost like his left-foot kick of the Adidas ball, which is so deceptive.
Fans have seen, over the years, Messi exchanging his sweat-soaked jersey with players from the rival team. Usually, he uses two jerseys per match, the blue and white prized possession worth gold. There is speculation already about who will bag those two jerseys tonight, the last time the King of Football will be sporting the Argentina jersey.
Lionel Messi’s jersey will be bigger than winning a lottery
One should go to the rival team, France, win or lose. One possibly should go to the most raucous section of Argentine fans inside the jam-packed Lusail Stadium. Ticket prices are so high, you cannot imagine. The final peep, to see Messi in flesh and blood has peaked.
This is a mass hysteria of sorts, for he has adorned the football pitches like the first Argentine great, Diego Maradona. Maradona was the winning captain and coach, though in the later part of his life he was not the right example. Women, wine, cigars, banned substances, he did everything. Yet, people dote on Maradona for all his creativity and magic on the football pitch.
Back to the Messi jersey, it will be more than a lottery for those who get his sweat-stained No.10 jersey. It’s almost like owning Messi, metaphorically. Will Messi go beyond exchanging his jerseys? How about his spikes, shin guard, and socks? Each thing he wears is a treasure for fans.
Sport has seen tennis and cricket balls etc being auctioned after being signed by the marquee players. The world is guessing what will happen with Messi’s personal things tonight. Sounds like a fantasy, doesn’t it? That has been the impact of one man from Argentina, who has dominated global football for over two decades.
Also Read: Lionel Messi’s House: Where does the Argentine live?
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S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)