'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
2 group matches, 2 winning goals. The little genius has kicked off the FIFA World Cup just the way he might have wanted. Yes, Lionel Messi scored a sensational goal to get his team back into lead against Bosnia when he went on one of his classic runs. His left foot shot, aiming for the inside of the post, curled in and made the score decisively 2-1 in favour of the Argentines.
Four days later in another group stage game against Iran, who surprised themselves with a fantastic performance, the superstar from Barcelona was back to fight for his country. It wasn’t till the 91st minute when Messi came to being with his goal, (according to him – ‘a wonderful goal’) and the commentator went screaming – ‘Vintage Messi’ and so it was. Messi curled the ball from outside the box and beat Iran’s Goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi who had been up to the mark until that moment. The fans at the Estádio Mineirão who had come in large numbers went berserk. The goal took Argentina into the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2014.
28 years back, a guy of the same age as Lionel Messi born in the same country as him was also captaining his football side at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. He scored 5 goals and made five assists. He scored his first goal in the second group stage match against Italy. 2 out of the 5 goals are still very fondly remembered. Both of them were scored in the same match in a matter of 4 minutes. One came to be known as – “The hand of god”, the other – “The Goal of the century”.
Throughout the 1986 World Cup, he played every minute of every Argentina game, attempting or creating more than half of Argentina's chances. He embarked on 90 dribbles, which was some three times more than any other player and was fouled 53 times winning his team twice as many free kicks as any player. Named as the Golden Ball Winner of the tournament, the guy’s name was Diego Armando Maradona.
Messi may have 4 consecutives Ballon D’or. But what Maradona has, is what every footballer ultimately craves. Yes, the Fifa World Cup. Maradona, one of the greatest to have ever stepped foot on the pitch single handedly won the World Cup for his nation.
Many of the experts think that the current Argentina squad is much better than the squad Maradona had. The likes of Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Higuain are some other key Argentina players this year.
So the question is, can Lionel Messi break the shackles? Can he become the Superman for his team and his nation too? Although, one thing is uncertain - The way the Argentina team has played in its first two matches against minnows of International Football, going the distance might just be an task too uphill for them. Unless ofcourse, the dimunitive dribbler turns the fields of this World Cup into his personal playground and becomes the powerhouse of his side.
The sky high demands of the Argentine crowds and constant boos in the stadiums, makes him a victim of his own success. Will it play on his mind? Will he let it effect him?
This time it looks as if he wants it more than anyone else. Lionel Messi – the star we know might well come to the party and deliver for his nation this time. After all this World Cup is about magic. If that happens, I am certain the world will surely know who was the greatest footballer that ever lived.
