Dhis World Cup has thrown up some nasty surprises for the big ones: Neymar injured his ankle in Brazil’s first game and hasn’t played a minute since; Cristiano Ronaldo has come to realize that not every Portugal goal he takes credit for is actually his; Robert Lewandowski, meanwhile, scored a goal for Poland that left no doubt about its authorship – only it was the first ever at a World Cup for the two-time world footballer.
Lionel Messi has scored nine World Cup goals – one more than Diego Maradona, the reference figure in Argentina. Messi passed the late legend, who comes to eight, on Saturday. But Messi’s 1-0 goal in the 2-1 win over Australia in the World Cup round of 16 also had a statistical anomaly: it was his first goal outside of the group stage of a final round. There was no shortage of opportunities. He played his first world tournament in Germany in 2006, and the Argentines always survived the group games. But only now, at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in al-Rayyan, west of Doha, did it work when Messi scored and sent the Argentine fans into ecstasy.
“We have taken another step. Now comes an even more difficult one,” said Messi. The Netherlands are waiting in the quarter-finals on Friday (8:00 p.m. CET in the FAZ live ticker for the World Cup and on MagentaTV). It should be the third to last step towards the goal of longing – the third title at a World Cup, the first for Messi. Maradona has his. It’s the last chance. Even before the championship in the emirate, Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini, whom they just call Leo, announced that, at the age of 35, this would be his last World Cup. He has already had four unsuccessful attempts to do the same as Maradona.
The road to the world title will be difficult for Argentina
The Germans almost always intervened. After all, that can no longer happen after their exit in Qatar. In 2006, Argentina’s national coach José Pékerman didn’t recognize Messi’s class and left him on the bench in Berlin’s quarter-finals. In 2010, with would-be coach Maradona on the touchline and Messi on the pitch, the Selección suffered a 4-0 debacle, again in the quarter-finals. And in 2014, Mario Götze showed the world that he might not be better than Messi, but he can score the most important goal in the world at the right moment – in the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro.
Four and a half years ago, Messi and Argentina were exceptionally defeated by the French in a wild round of 16. The 2018 world champion could wait again this year, but only in the final. A round before that, a duel with record world champions and arch-rivals from South America, Brazil, is possible. The way to the gold cup will be a difficult one. But Messi, who made his 1000th professional game against Australia, is showing form. The way he keeps picking up the pace, dribbling the ball close to his foot and delighting the fans, that’s great football art.
But he will not be able to win the title single-handedly, which he has mastered like no one else in the world of football. With Ángel di María, just a little younger than Messi, absent injured against Australia, coach Lionel Scaloni opted for the youngest generation, who should have been the future before the tournament but are now the present. In Messi’s shadow, some players have pushed themselves to the fore in Qatar, although Scaloni is careful not to over-praise them.
Argentina isn’t just Messi anymore
Julián Álvarez is 22 and has been with the Albiceleste for just over a year. In the summer, the center forward moved to Manchester City, where he has to fight for playing time behind Erling Haaland. His goal tally in his few appearances is impressive, however, as was the case at the World Cup, where he scored twice, including the second against Australia, when he cunningly awaited a goalkeeping error. One goal, against Poland, came from 23-year-old Alexis Mac Allister, whose father Carlos won three caps in Maradona’s final time. His son is now under contract with Brighton & Hove Albion in England and has Messi’s back.
The same goes for Enzo Fernández, 21, from Benfica Lisbon. The midfielder scored superbly against Mexico and has his day job cleaning up in front of defence. Manchester United centre-back Lisando Martínez is also of great value. The 24-year-old didn’t play a minute against Poland and was only a substitute against Australia, but prevented the equalizer shortly before the end with a sensational defensive action.
They all share admiration for Messi, one of football’s greats. Now they are on the field together at the World Cup. There, the young generation wants to contribute a small part to the crowning of the old master. Because Argentina has long been more than Messi.
