Lose to Mexico and Messi, 35-year-old magical Messi, would see his final chance of winning this trophy ended. Messi’s career would be missing what he must feel should be his by right of his unmatched talent.
“We had to rescue our World Cup,” Messi said afterwards, and he did just that. “We needed this euphoria… It seems like in the second-half we made our true debut.”
Messi’s goal lifted the roof; he gave this World Cup a moment it wanted with a sumptuous, imperious finish, creating the space as only Messi does and beating the goalkeeper as only Messi does, with a brutal, elegant sweep of that left foot from outside the penalty area.
The way he celebrated, shaking his fists, roaring, showed just how much it meant; showed the tension he felt. As he stood taking the applause even some Mexican fans could not resist whipping out their camera phones.
“Number 10 scored the goal and he does what he does,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “We have Leo.” The din of celebration was amazing. Utterly amazing. Scaloni immediately reacting by hauling of creative players, including Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister, and bringing on defenders. He was going to tough this one out but although Mexico made attacking changes it was Argentina who continued to threaten and they struck again with substitute Enzo Fernández almost surpassing Messi’s finish as bent a fierce right-foot shot high into the net.
At the end Messi went to the fans and conducted the singing. The dance continues. “We still have another game to play,” he said. “We still need to do it.”
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