He had sleepless nights. With the untimely retirement of his pal Sergio Aguerro, Messi for the first time will go into a World Cup without a roommate. He chose to remain alone, perhaps often reflecting on what could be in his hotel room or even map a strategy to win the World Cup. Leadership is indeed lonely, his pals from the 2014 finals have all retired or no more part of the team. Now the responsibility was all his to carry. As if that was not enough, the most illustrious son of the Land, Diego Armando Maradona has also died. How can the man who has won 7 Ballon D'ors, Countless League titles, 4 Champions Leagues, Top scorer awards among multiple awards, but has never won the most prestigious prize in football. There is also a small matter of whether he or Christiano Ronaldo of Portugal is the Greatest of All Time.
In summer 2021, Messi exorcised the Copa America demons by leading Argentina to the title, their first in 28 years. He came back to par with Christiano Ronaldo who 3 years earlier, had won the European Championship with Portugal beating France in the final, 1-0. Portugal's Ronaldo will go on to win the inaugural UEFA Nations League of 2019. Messi has already won laurels at all age levels with Argentina, the FIFA U20 and Olympic Games. But one trophy eludes these pair of GOATs, The FIFA World Cup. Messi had flirted several times with retirement in the past, he has had to bail out the Argentine FA on some occasions, so when the people called, Messi answered and he has been nothing short of remarkable.
In their first game in Qatar, they were shocked by Saudi Arabia, losing 2-1. The task became more laborious for Messi who at 35 is on the wrong side of age. Yet being the heart and soul of La Albiceleste, he put in multiple Man of the match displays leading them to the grand final. And there in wait, was the Blues of France, led by the Charm and arrogance of Kylian Mbappe. The young man at 23, was playing in his second World Cup Finals in just 2 tournaments, a feat Messi has replicated only twice in five attempts. The game itself was scintillating. Argentina raced into a 2 goal lead through, who else, Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria in the first half in a dominant display that the French did not have answers to.
On resumption, after a couple of changes, the French took the game to The Argentines, and in a chaotic one minute spell drew level through Mbappe. The game went into extra time, again Lionel Messi restored the Argentine lead only to be pegged back three minutes later by Mbappe again. The scoreline at the end of extra time, was one we have not seen in a very long time in the world cup for more than 60 years. The 2 finalists shared 6 goals between them. How befitting it was, as they challenged for a third Star in their National Team shirts. At the resulting penalty shoot outs, Messi and Argentina will not be deny, the spirit of Diego Armando Maradona will now rest in perfect peace. Messi on most probably his final game for Argentina, totaling 172 caps, with 98 goals, 20 World Cup goals and Assists (13 Goals and 7 Assists) and another player of the tournament display, finally wins the big one in Qatar, thereby concluding the GOAT debate between himself and Christiano Ronaldo as the Greatest of All Time. Lio Messi is the one true GOAT!!!!