I didn't really have any other place to put this, but wanted to put my thoughts into words, at least as well as I can. This Argentina team is just so incredible to me, I have never seen anything like them. As reigning champions, who have been on the receiving end of some fortunate (but correct) calls, I can understand some of the antipathy I have seen.
But consider a few facts- they have the oldest starting lineup of the entire World Cup, of 29.8. Messi will be the oldest outfield player to ever play in a World Cup final. They have covered less distance than almost every other team in the World Cup, comparable to Qatar. As a guy well, a few years older than Messi, there is a lot of appeal to seeing a wily old veteran, his body starting to fail him, somehow conjure the magic again, and again, willing his team to improbable victory.
They are not untalented, but the rosters of Spain, France, England have more players from top leagues.
This is a team powered by brotherhood and love and service and sacrifice- these players genuinely love and revere Messi, and they run and defend and give up their offensive chances to preserve his energy. They would give their lives for him, and he for them. The way these guys regulate and use their emotions is unparalleled, every game they play con el cuchillo entre los dientes. And it's not just that they do it for each other, but the connection they have to their fans and their country is also unique. After the England game, and the Cape Verde game I went to, and all the games, they stayed and sang songs with the fans. And then in the locker room they sang more. These players know all the songs from years ago, because they too grew up in the religion of Maradona and Messi. The Viking Row was fun with Haaland banging the drum. Singing Wonderwall, ok that's pretty neat, but there is no other national team, in any sport, that can go 10+ songs deep and every player not only knows the words but sings along.
And then of course there is Messi. The greatest of all time. Smallest guy on almost every pitch he's played on. After 2022, I suspected he would be back for this, though I envisioned a different role. Like Del Piero for Italy in 2006 (at the ripe old age of 31!), an experienced leader in the locker room, a sub to bring on with 30 minutes to look for a goal.
What a fool I was! Messi in 2026 is not the world beater he was at Barcelona. He is not even the player he was in 2022. He looks decidedly mortal these days. He hits some balls into the wall on free kicks, average defenders can knick the ball off him sometimes when he dribbles. But he is still somehow even better than ever. Leading the race for Golden Boot at 39 with 8 goals and 4 assists is insanity. His goal against Egypt, his goal against Cape Verde, both world class goals worthy of the Messi youtube highlight videos I watched from 10, 15 years ago, and oh yeah he also scored two from outside the box against Algeria. The two assists last night both demonstrated his influence- on the assist to Enzo, the English defenders are drawn to him as moths to the flame, opening the space for the shot. On the cross to 5'9" Lautaro, he puts the ball in the perfect spot amongst the towering English defenders, in stoppage time, with his "weaker" right foot.
My feelings with this team are of joy and disbelief. But also mourning- we will never see a player like him again, and I don't think a team like this either. What good fortune we have to live in the time of Messi. Now we have one more game to live in his world, win or lose I will cherish it. Vamos!
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Here's a few videos that I have been watching recently. The first is Leo's incredible team speech before the 2021 Copa America final against Brazil, Leo's first trophy with Argentina and the victory that started the run of La Scaloneta. I would run through a wall after hearing that.
https://youtu.be/f-FGYH6AkXg?is=df7KnQAMe-CVLHW9
The celebration in the locker room after the England game.
https://x.com/DiarioOle/status/2077530159956042091?s=20
https://x.com/sudanalytics_/status/20775...90301?s=20
Just a bunch of guys having the time of their lives.
https://x.com/golden_waldo/status/207646...19588?s=20
And what it means for the people back in BA.
But consider a few facts- they have the oldest starting lineup of the entire World Cup, of 29.8. Messi will be the oldest outfield player to ever play in a World Cup final. They have covered less distance than almost every other team in the World Cup, comparable to Qatar. As a guy well, a few years older than Messi, there is a lot of appeal to seeing a wily old veteran, his body starting to fail him, somehow conjure the magic again, and again, willing his team to improbable victory.
They are not untalented, but the rosters of Spain, France, England have more players from top leagues.
This is a team powered by brotherhood and love and service and sacrifice- these players genuinely love and revere Messi, and they run and defend and give up their offensive chances to preserve his energy. They would give their lives for him, and he for them. The way these guys regulate and use their emotions is unparalleled, every game they play con el cuchillo entre los dientes. And it's not just that they do it for each other, but the connection they have to their fans and their country is also unique. After the England game, and the Cape Verde game I went to, and all the games, they stayed and sang songs with the fans. And then in the locker room they sang more. These players know all the songs from years ago, because they too grew up in the religion of Maradona and Messi. The Viking Row was fun with Haaland banging the drum. Singing Wonderwall, ok that's pretty neat, but there is no other national team, in any sport, that can go 10+ songs deep and every player not only knows the words but sings along.
And then of course there is Messi. The greatest of all time. Smallest guy on almost every pitch he's played on. After 2022, I suspected he would be back for this, though I envisioned a different role. Like Del Piero for Italy in 2006 (at the ripe old age of 31!), an experienced leader in the locker room, a sub to bring on with 30 minutes to look for a goal.
What a fool I was! Messi in 2026 is not the world beater he was at Barcelona. He is not even the player he was in 2022. He looks decidedly mortal these days. He hits some balls into the wall on free kicks, average defenders can knick the ball off him sometimes when he dribbles. But he is still somehow even better than ever. Leading the race for Golden Boot at 39 with 8 goals and 4 assists is insanity. His goal against Egypt, his goal against Cape Verde, both world class goals worthy of the Messi youtube highlight videos I watched from 10, 15 years ago, and oh yeah he also scored two from outside the box against Algeria. The two assists last night both demonstrated his influence- on the assist to Enzo, the English defenders are drawn to him as moths to the flame, opening the space for the shot. On the cross to 5'9" Lautaro, he puts the ball in the perfect spot amongst the towering English defenders, in stoppage time, with his "weaker" right foot.
My feelings with this team are of joy and disbelief. But also mourning- we will never see a player like him again, and I don't think a team like this either. What good fortune we have to live in the time of Messi. Now we have one more game to live in his world, win or lose I will cherish it. Vamos!
‐------
Here's a few videos that I have been watching recently. The first is Leo's incredible team speech before the 2021 Copa America final against Brazil, Leo's first trophy with Argentina and the victory that started the run of La Scaloneta. I would run through a wall after hearing that.
https://youtu.be/f-FGYH6AkXg?is=df7KnQAMe-CVLHW9
The celebration in the locker room after the England game.
https://x.com/DiarioOle/status/2077530159956042091?s=20
https://x.com/sudanalytics_/status/20775...90301?s=20
Just a bunch of guys having the time of their lives.
https://x.com/golden_waldo/status/207646...19588?s=20
And what it means for the people back in BA.