Lionel Messi’s hopes of leading Argentina to back-to-back World Cup titles evaporated against Spain as the world’s best player humiliated himself by participating in his teammate’s dark arts.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi and teammates after the loss to Spain (Image: ©Icon Sportswire All Rights Reserved)
Argentina lost the battle. Lionel Messi, on the other hand, went out with a bit of shame and ridicule for his amazing feat.
There is a way to lose – and Messi is not too old to learn it yet.
The soccer genius defied age and logic alike to make this World Cup shine. He threatened to win the Golden Boot award. He led the team to consecutive finals appearances, breaking the scoring record previously held by Miroslav Klose. In other words, he accomplished everything that was expected of him, except once again winning the sport’s highest award.
But what is not expected of him is the kind of behavior he displayed to the world watching at the final whistle in what goes down as one of the most ill-tempered World Cup finals in history.
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Messi has appeared to be above the law in recent weeks when it comes to officiating and officiating in general.
The aura he exudes sometimes scares officials. No one wants to be the referee who sends off the greatest soccer player of all time, right? In short, Messi is doing what he wants.
Immediately after Enzo Fernandes received a red card for a second yellow for a foul on Pau Kvarši, the players surrounded Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic. Messi then used an exchange with Marc Cucurella as a chance to equalize.
Cucurella was seen trying to communicate with Messi by covering his mouth with his hand. It wasn’t actually even a hand, just a few fingers. Messi then informed Vincic.
Lionel Messi points out Marc Cucurella as he tries to send him off (Image: AFP or licensor)
If this particular FIFA rule is absurd in the first place, it is nothing short of shameful, embarrassing and humiliating to see someone of Messi’s stature try to use it to his advantage.
In one example, Messi turned himself into a petulant child. You know, when he ran to his teacher in the school playground when another child trampled on a horse chestnut.
His self-esteem and dignity decreased. Frankly, it was pathetic to witness.
Messi has done amazing things for football, and for sports in general. But if this is his last World Cup, his final act will be remembered with great sadness.
He showed himself to be fallible. He showed himself to be vulnerable. He showed that he was still human. He also showed an inability to accept defeat.
Time has proven that even true greats have flaws. And Messi added his name to that long list.
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