From a surprising first-round defeat to the lowly-rated Saudi Arabia…a result over which many of his critics gloated…and gave genuine football lovers concern over his level of preparedness…the diminutive Lionel Messi picked up the gauntlet.
He was the anchor of the Argentinian national team…he provided the right leadership for his teammates without being bossy or arrogant.
Indeed, the entire team looked up to him for succour…and not for once was he found wanting while the whole tournament lasted.
Not self-conceited, with his head unbowed, but exhibiting the calmness expected of a true sailor against a stormy sail, he faced each subsequent match as it came.
Though an accomplished footballer who is globally rated, he knew that the value of his essence and whole accomplishments depend largely on the final outcome of the Qatar 2022 Mundial.
Messi very much said this when he admitted that this would be his last World Cup as he may not be around to play in the 2026 Finals. Thus, he declared that he would want to wear the 2022 Crown as the icing on the cake for a glorious football career.
With his eyes on the sparrow, he was patient like an eagle, even as he fought the battle with heart of a lion. He knew what was at stake…he cannot afford to fail himself or let down his millions of fans across the globe.
It was written all over him…the pains, the agonies, the tiredness and physical exhaustions. Nevertheless, Messi was not giving up…and Messi, indeed, didn’t give up to the end
Level-headed and gentlemanly, the diminutive man on whose shoulders laid the national burden namely, a battle to bring glory to his fatherland, was stoic as he was trudging on to accord himself a pride of place in the annals of world football.
Rising above the negativities and negative comments that attended his team’s dismal performance against Saudi Arabia, Messi became the vanguard, championing the course of Argentina in the tournament.
He became the Tormentor-In-Chief of subsequent opponents, propelling his teammates and scoring the needed vital goals as they progress.
By sheer dint of perseverance, persistence, doggedness and determination, Lionel Messi weathered the storm and, to the consternation of the nay-sayers, he rose above self-limitations to become the celebrated modern football icon.
The Argentinian team was stretched into an extra-time and penalty kicks by the French national team, propelled by the prodigy Kylian Mbappe who deservedly won the Golden Boot Award.
Drained out and sweating blood, with Mbappe being the torn in his flesh, Messi eventually, and finally etched his name in the Book of Global Football…he won the World Cup for his country and for himself.
He was a beautiful sight to behold as passionately cuddled and kissed the ultimate prize, the World Cup, even while on his way to the podium to receive his Golden Goal Award.
Savor the well-deserved victory and successes of your exploits, even as you commence the process of winding down from football, the round-leather game that brought you global fame, success and money.
As you rightly advised yourself, now is the time to take a bow from international football. You have achieved all the achievable in the beautiful game of football. You are, indeed, one of the rare gifts to the world.
All hail the Mercurial King Lionel Messi, the diminutive, but a man with a heart of lion who fought patiently like an eagle, but bravely and strongly like a tiger to earn the crown.
