One year has passed since my best sporting moment as a fan. Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup. I still remember that evening as if it were yesterday, and probably will recall it like that for the rest of my life. As an Argentina fan of the late-1990s generation, there had been multiple heartbreaks, and that probably made this victory even sweeter. The words of Peter Drury, “Lionel Messi has shaken hands with Paradise”, will always echo in my ears like the sweet sounds of a melody. That night was special.
2010 World Cup, South Africa: It has been a long journey as an Argentina football fan. For our generation of the late-1990s, the South Africa 2010 World Cup was special. Siphiwe Tshabalala’s left-footed screamer against Mexico on the opening day, Drury on the mic, “Goal Bafana Bafana! Goal for South Africa, Goal for all Africa!”, mixed with the buzz of the famous Vuvuzela and the dance of the three South African players – a core memory for us, or at least for me. There were two iconic World Cup songs as well, Waka Waka by Shakira and K’Naan’s The Waving Flag. For Argentina fans, the expectations were high. Messi was already an established name in club football, having won his first Ballon D’Or in the 2009-10 season, but was yet to make it big with the Albiceleste. The Beijing 2008 Olympics Gold medal or the U-20 Youth World Cup in 2005 didn’t quite make the cut. Talking of expectations, it was Diego Maradona who was leading the team as the head coach. But the team didn’t live up to expectations. It was a heartbreaking 4-0 defeat against Germany in the quarterfinals, and the team didn’t even stand a chance. The sight of Messi walking off the pitch with tears in his eyes and El Diego consoling him broke millions of Argentina fans’ hearts.
2014 World Cup, Brazil: Four years later, it was different team. Messi was the captain now, but maybe still not the leader. He played a pivotal role throughout, scored a goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the following matchday against Iran, his 90+1’ left footer shocked the world and booked an important three points for the team. The road was not so smooth to the finals. Two back-to-back 1-0 victories against Switzerland and Belgium in the knockouts meant a place in the semi-finals. After a goal-less 120-minute show, it was down to penalties and Sergio Romero’s brilliance between the posts saved the day. Argentina were through to the grand finale of the FIFA World Cup, a repeat of the 1990 final against Germany. Argentina had their chances to seal it within the regulation 90 minutes, but several misses took the game to the extra-time. A few thousand miles away from Rosario, at the Maracana, Mario Gotze – Germany’s Super Sub – settled it with his left-footed finish, stunning millions of Argentina fans and taking the trophy away from Messi. “Messi on a million backs, Messi for a million flashbulbs” filtered through the television screens as he took a freekick in the dying minutes. “No, no, no, no, it’s gone away, it’s gone away!” Hearts broken once again. The Golden Ball award didn’t matter much to Argentine’s No. 10. He wanted more!
Copa America – 2015 Chile and 2016 USA: One year on, Argentina had another chance to win a major tournament in the 21st century. The Copa America, Chile 2015. Heartbreak once again. It was the hosts, Chile, who were up against Tata Martino and his boys. A shoot-out was needed to decide the winner after a stalemate in regulation. Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega failed to covert from the spot and Chile were crowned champions. Messi and his boys were again a step short of glory. A picture of Messi crying started to make the rounds on social media, with multiple trolls. 2016 was the centenary year for CONMEBOL and a special Gold Trophy was made for the champions. Another chance for Messi to win something big in national colours. It was strong campaign for La Albiceleste, with Messi scoring 5 goals and Higuain 4. Messi’s freekick against the USA in the quarterfinal was one of those goals that stays with you forever. But in the final, it was once again Chile and after another goal-less encounter, penalties were again required. Messi sent his shot way above the crossbar, and it was 4-2 in favour of Chile, with Lucas Biglia also missing for Argentina. Messi announced his retirement from the national team.
World Cup 2018, Russia: Messi reversed his retirement during the World Cup qualifiers for Russia 2018. Cristiano Ronaldo had won the Euro in 2016. I don’t mention the Euro to bring in an element of comparison, but it was the foundation for trolls as netizens made best use of the penalty-miss clip from the 2016 Copa final and the picture of Messi crying from 2015 to add to their memes. Russia 2018 was not a campaign for Argentina to remember, but an important one for a team in transition. In a seven-goal fest, Argentina lost 4-3 to France, to make an exit in the Round of 16. “Retirement 2.0 Coming-Soon” started trending on social media.
#OnThisDay last year, it was the crowning moment for #LeoMessi.@Argentina won the World Cup defeating France!
Qatar was painted blue, and millions of #LaAlbiceleste fans celebrated. Team RevSportz covered it from the ground.
A look back at that magical day ❤@Wowmomo4u… pic.twitter.com/AV5bmOpQJF
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) December 18, 2023
The Turnaround: If, after the 2018 World Cup exit, someone had told me that Argentina would win three major tournaments in the next four years, I wouldn’t have believed them. The Copa America 2019, a bronze-medal finish for Argentina, this time beating Chile in the third-place match. Moving forward to the next Copa America, once again in Brazil, in 2021, the team was almost new. Angel Di Maria, Messi and Nicolas Otamendi were the few seniors in the team. After a 1-1 draw in the campaign opener against Chile, it was a no-look-back journey for Lionel Scaloni and his side. It was the Super Classico in the Copa Final at the Maracana. From Rodrigo de Paul’s lofted pass in the 22nd minute, Di Maria chipped over Ederson and gave Argentina the lead. It was enough for Argentina to finally be crowned champions after so many heartbreaks. Messi could finally lift a major international trophy. A special mention for Di Maria. He has scored in every final that Argentina has won in the 21st century and was unavailable in the 2014 summit clash due to an injury.
When, in 2020, it was decided to revive the Finalissima, or the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions, it was another chance for Messi and Argentina to grab silverware before the Qatar World Cup. A dominant display of football from the South American champions, destroyed Italy, the Euro 2020 winners, 3-0 at Wembley. The Argentine national team looked stronger than ever before, giving hope to millions that ultimate glory could be theirs in Qatar.
People are sceptical when it comes to fandom. We tend to search for patterns to give ourselves mental strength. When Argentina lost the first match against Saudi Arabia, I was trying to recall 2010, when Spain lost their first match against Switzerland and ultimately went on to win the cup. Canada had qualified for Qatar and had also played in 1986, the last time Argentina had won. Another such ‘stat’ that gave a fan peace of mind. After the Saudi match, the team buckled up and didn’t look back. They bulldozed their way to the semi-final after a nail-biting encounter against the Netherlands and some Emiliano Martinez antics in goal in the tie-breaker, and Croatia were brushed aside in the last four.
The 2022 Final: The morning of December 18, the roads of Kolkata were all blue with Argentina flags hanging everywhere. It was one of the most intense finals one could imagine. And this time, Messi was a leader. He knew how to win. And after Di Maria gave Argentina an early two-goal cushion, I was still in disbelief. Was it finally happening? Di Maria had scored in the Final, and we knew what that usually meant. But when the Kylian Mbappe show took over, it was too much to handle. An extraordinary performance from the young Frenchman, who became the only player after Geoff Hurst (for England in 1966) to score a hat-trick in a World Cup Final.
I was not in front of the TV anymore. I was listening to my father screaming from the other room after Messi scored his second. Mbappe equalised! It was 3-3. I did not see Martinez making the ‘save of the century’ in the dying minutes. There was too much going on. It was like when people used to listen to commentary on radio transistors, I was just listening to the TV from the other room. When Gonzalo Montiel took the ball in his hand for the final shot in the shootout, and Argentina were just a kick away from being the world champions, I came in front of the TV with the Argentine jersey covering my eyes. GOAL! And Argentina were world champions. Messi could finally lift the ultimate trophy in world football.
I was in tears and so were a million others. I still haven’t watched the entire match, and waited for this day, December 18, 2023. I’ll watch it today and relive the moment of being champions. Strange how, thousands of miles away from the country, you feel a part of the team. See how the Bangladeshi fans were celebrated by the Argentines in Qatar. This is fandom. As an ardent Argentina and Messi fan, I’ll forever cherish that night. Maybe get myself a tattoo, ‘XVIII-XX-XXIII’. To end, with my favourite bit of commentary, once again in the words of Drury. “And maybe today there will, of course, always be those who argue, always be those who debate, and the debate can rage on if you like,” he said. “But as he falls in love with the object in the world that his heart most desired, it is hard to escape the supposition that he has rendered himself today, as the GREATEST OF ALL TIME.”
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