Wayne Rooney on Lionel Messi crying after scoring in Argentina’s opening World Cup game:
🗣️ “That image tells you everything about what football means to Lionel Messi.”
“People see the trophies, the records, the fame... but they don't always see the emotion and pressure that comes with carrying a nation’s hopes.”
“This is his sixth World Cup, he has achieved almost everything in football, yet scoring for Argentina on this stage still brings tears to his eyes.”
“That’s because it means something. It’s not about statistics, it’s about passion, pride, and representing your country.”
“When a player like Messi cries after a goal, you realise he still loves the game as much as he did as a kid.”
“Moments like this are why football is the greatest sport in the world.”
You’re Ronaldo. You’re coming into your last-ever World Cup at 40, hoping to finally win it, and then your biggest rival scores a hat-trick before you’ve even kicked a ball. It takes insane mental fortitude not to pack your bags and go home. 😭😭😭
Football is genuinely the closest thing we have to a universal language. Expanding the World Cup to 48 teams was a top tier decision man. More countries, more cultures, more stories.