There was an ethereal, dreamlike quality to the extraordinary footage of Argentina’s World Cup celebrations at the El Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
It almost feels like it never actually happened. As if there’s been a rip in the fabric between the fabric of reality and Lionel Messi’s consciousness.
During that moment in the dying seconds of the World Cup final, with Randal Kolo Muani suddenly played through and given a golden chance of winning it for France, you can see Messi stood alone by the centre circle.
The No.10 could do nothing but stand and watch as Emiliano Martinez stuck that foot out. The rest was history. But you imagine in those few short seconds – that felt like an eternity – Messi’s mind wandered to the Monumental and these very moments, all he’d ever dreamt of, being snatched away.
It played a scene at the end of the most epic, schlocky sports film by a director that possesses zero subtlety. And it was all the better for it.
“Obviously I wanted to end my career with this, I can’t ask for anything more,” Messi said after Argentina’s unforgettable penalty shootout victory over France at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium back in December.
“I was able to win the Copa America, the World Cup … it was given to me almost at the end. I love football, what I do. I enjoy being a part of the national team, with the group. I want to continue playing a few more games being world champion. It’s anyone’s childhood dream. I was lucky enough to have achieved everything and this is what I was missing, it’s now here.”
And here it was. The greatest player of his generation soaking in the feeling of standing atop the summit he’d given everything to reach.
Lionel Messi in tears 😢
What a moment as Argentina welcomes back its World Cup winners. pic.twitter.com/Pn9lHAw7uV
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 23, 2023
And so begins the final chapter of Messi’s career. The one where he’s done it all. The one where he no longer bears the burden of emulating El Diego. Of carrying the hopes and dreams of one of the world’s most football-obsessed nations.
He has nothing left to prove. He can just enjoy whatever’s left, knowing that ultimately nothing from here on out really matters. PSG may have exited the Champions League meekly, but ultimately whatever happens after Qatar will read as little more than a footnote in his post script.
Having been named the tournament’s best player as he captained…
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