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Lionel Scaloni tends to be thoughtful about many things, but especially when the topic revolves around another Lionel, a much more famous one, possibly the most famous athlete in the world, and one that the Argentine coach sees daily.
You see, Scaloni has watched Lionel Messi for much of his life. Both come from the Argentine province of Santa Fe, Scaloni from the small town of Pujato and Messi from the much larger Rosario. Both paths passed through Newell’s Old Boys, the historic club that has produced players like Maxi Rodríguez, Gabriel Batistuta and the current American coach, Mauricio Pochettino.
So when Scaloni talks about Messi’s legacy, it’s worth listening to.
“Not only the Argentine population, but the entire world, the entire planet, wants to see him play,” Scaloni explained. “Everyone wants to see him on the field, because he has an effect not only on Argentina fans but on fans around the world.”
Those fans will likely have their last chance to see Messi wearing his light blue striped shirt at the world cup beginning Tuesday night, when the defending champions open their tournament against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Messi had been dealing with a minor hamstring problem in the run-up to the World Cup, but looks comfortable on the rare occasions that journalists have witnessed training. And in last week’s final warm-up game against Iceland at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, he entered the game as a second-half substitute, scored moments after a penalty kick and played 20 minutes without a problem.
So, barring an unforeseen event, Messi, who has yet to speak publicly since the national team assembled for the World Cup about two weeks ago, will reach his 200th cap during their match against Les Fennecs.
“There’s nothing negative to say,” Scaloni said. “He has always been there and is essential for us. That’s how it will continue to be.”
Everyone wants to be part of the Messi mania
Tapash Chakraborty, 57, owner of an engineering design company, showed up inside a Kansas City bar on Monday hoping to catch a glimpse of an Argentine player at a match held about 24 hours before the game.
I had one in particular I wanted to see.
“Messi is Messi,” said Chakraborty, who will be in the stands on Tuesday. “He is the god of football.”
He wasn’t alone either. The room was full of Messi shirts, just as the streets were in the first days of the World Cup. His famous number 10 is ubiquitous, whether on his old Barcelona shirt, his current Inter Miami shirt or that of the national team.
Stories related to Argentina
“We’re all fans of Messi. He’s the best player in the world,” said Michelle Lemmon, who made the 160-mile (257.50-kilometer) trek with her four children from her home in Kirksville, Missouri, to Union Station in Kansas City on Monday to celebrate her 42nd birthday.
Lemmon, who played varsity soccer at a Catholic school after captaining the men’s team at her high school, will cheer on the United States throughout the tournament. But their dream matchup, Lemmon said, would be for the Americans to face Argentina in the final.
“It’s hard. You have to like it,” Lemmon said. “I’m nervous that this might be their last World Cup, so we’re very excited. It’s an honor that they chose Kansas City as their venue. Having the World Cup champions here, you know, starting in 2022 is incredible.”
Messi seeks to join Pelé as repeat World Cup champion
The list of the greatest soccer players in history often begins with Messi and ends with Pelé, the Brazilian star who not only led Brazil to World Cup glory but was instrumental in growing the game in the United States during his time with the New York Cosmos.
What would bring the two of you together even more? Argentina successfully defends its title.
Only twice before has a nation won the World Cup again. Italy did it in the 1930s and Brazil did it in 1962, when despite Pelé’s injury in the group stage, Canarinho beat Czechoslovakia in the final in Chile.
France came close to achieving a third repeat victory but were denied by Argentina four years ago in a penalty shootout in Qatar.
“What happened in Qatar was just incredible. The whole country came together,” recalled Nicolas Otamendi, Messi’s lifelong teammate on the national team. “We have it engraved in our minds and it has injected us with strength to keep trying. There is no way to relax. We need to continue working with that level of humility that is required in this type of competitions.”
There are few superstars more humble than Messi, whom Otamendi described as “a simple man who only focuses on training.”
“It’s also a competitive animal,” Otamendi said. “You want to be there with him, supporting him, serving him and laughing out loud all the time. Like I said, when the ball is rolling, that’s when you need to push, rally and come together as a family on the field.”
Information from The Associated Press.
