Siempre es preferible perder raspando frente a un equipazo mientras defendés tu título de campeón, que festejar porque sos el más alto de los enanos. Si me van a ganar, que me gane el mejor.
I’ve never seen—and I don’t think I ever will see—a more complete footballer than Lionel Messi.
Imagine being almost 40 years old, the oldest player on the pitch, in a game full of physical battles and hard tackles, yet still adapting effortlessly. Carrying the ball, dribbling past players, and absorbing challenge after challenge without fading.
Now imagine England scoring first, shutting down the middle completely, defending with 5 defenders, the clock ticking away, your team on the verge of elimination from the World Cup.
So what do you do?
You move out to the wing, take complete control of the game, and start creating chances in every possible way—early crosses, inswingers, outswingers—whatever the situation demands.
Then you complete the comeback.
You turn defeat into victory with 2 assists, including a brilliant one with your weaker foot. You create 4 chances, 2 of them clear-cut. You complete 9 successful dribbles and win 12 duels, more than anyone else on the pitch.
Show me another player in football history who has produced a half like that at 40 years old, in a World Cup semifinal.
You won’t.
Only Messi.
He has now been directly involved in 12 of Argentina’s 19 goals at this World Cup, contributing in every single game.
Now do you understand why Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer in history? 👑💙
All of you hating on Argentina, we Irish understand you & empathise with you. But let us do our fucking thing tonight, yeah? Hating England is our national pastime. The Argentinians never stole our land and starved us to death. Vamos, vamos, Argentina!
Choose Argentina.
Choose the blue and white.
Choose Messi.
Choose Maradona.
Choose the Hand of God.
Choose the left foot, the low centre of gravity and the ball that somehow never leaves their control.
Choose a nation where football isn’t just a sport, it’s a religion.
Choose packed streets in Buenos Aires.
Choose flags hanging from every balcony.
Choose drums, flares and 90 minutes of absolute chaos.
Choose number 10s who don’t just play the game, they change it forever.
Choose Maradona dancing through defenders like they weren’t there.
Choose Messi walking around the pitch, waiting for the exact moment to ruin someone’s night.
Choose outrageous goals.
Choose impossible passes.
Choose free-kicks that bend around walls and into history.
Choose last-minute winners.
Choose penalty shootouts you can barely watch.
Choose grown men crying in the stands.
Choose the World Cup champions.
Choose a country that gave football two of the greatest players it has ever seen.
Choose temporarily forgetting every argument you’ve ever had about Messi and Ronaldo.
Choose learning the words to Muchachos by kick-off.
Choose backing Argentina with the same passion as someone born and raised in Rosario.
Choose anyone playing England.
Choose Argentina. 🇦🇷