Some people keep asking me who I’ll support in the final, as if I haven’t been reading the posts and watching the videos saying, “Whoever wins, it doesn’t matter. They’re both the same.”
That’s their opinion, not mine.
Argentina and Spain have a beautiful footballing connection, one that Messi himself helped create. I love watching Spain. I love Yamal, Pedri, and all the Barça players representing La Roja. I support them against France, I want them to beat Germany, and I’m always behind them in European competitions.
But on football’s biggest stage, my heart only knows Argentina.
I watched every heartbreak Messi went through with his national team. I watched the 2014 World Cup final defeat to Germany. I watched the back-to-back Copa América final losses to Chile. I watched him retire from international football because he couldn’t handle the endless criticism that he only performed for Barcelona.
I lived through every disappointment, every tear, every moment people mocked him and said he’d never do it with Argentina. Then I witnessed the greatest comeback football has ever seen: Copa América, Finalissima, and finally the World Cup.
How can I not support Argentina after living through all of that?
I’m Algerian, but I support Argentina as if I were Argentine. Messi made me fall in love with this country and with its people, who live and breathe football.
If Spain were to lift the World Cup, it would soften the pain of Argentina losing. If Argentina couldn’t win it, I’d rather see Spain lift the trophy than any other nation.
But it will never be my wish at Argentina’s expense.
With Argentina, always. 🇦🇷❤️