On November 26, local time, the match between Argentina (blue) and Mexico in the second round of Group C of the 2022 Qatar World Cup group stage was held at the Lusail Stadium.
In the end, the Argentine team defeated the Mexican team 2:0.
The picture shows Argentine player Messi entering the field.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
(Qatar World Cup) How far is Messi from the "Hercules Cup" at Lusail Stadium?
China News Agency, Doha, November 27th: Messi, how far is it from the "Hercules Cup" at the Lusail Stadium?
China News Agency reporter Xing Chong
The Lusail Stadium is the final venue of this World Cup and will witness the historic moment when the "Hercules Cup" is once again won by the champion team.
In the group stage, before each game here, there will be a light show warm-up session.
Under the shining starlight, a huge shape of the "Hercules Cup" will appear in the center of the Lusail Stadium, sparking and dazzling.
At this time, the two teams had assembled in the player tunnel, and the captain standing at the front had the most vivid view of this huge "Hercules Cup".
Among them, of course, is Argentina's captain Lionel Messi, the world's top star in his fifth and most likely last World Cup.
The 2014 World Cup final was the closest Messi was to the "Hercules Cup". However, the Argentine team lost to Germany 0:1. The scene of Messi passing the "Hercules Cup" moved countless fans all over the world.
When Messi is in the "Last Dance" of the World Cup, how far is he from the "Hercules Cup" at the Lusail Stadium?
On November 26, local time, the match between Argentina (blue) and Mexico in the second round of Group C of the 2022 Qatar World Cup group stage was held at the Lusail Stadium.
In the end, the Argentine team defeated the Mexican team 2:0.
The picture shows the Argentine player Messi shooting.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
Before the game, many people predicted that the Argentine team, which has successively won the America’s Cup and Europe and the United States Cup, is the biggest favorite to win the cup. The Argentine team’s first two group matches were arranged at the Lusail Stadium, which seemed to be some kind of omen.
However, Argentina's opening game was a surprise.
Although Messi had a dream start, he scored a penalty kick in the 7th minute. His first goal in the fifth World Cup came quite easily, but then the Argentine team was defeated by the traditional World Cup team Saudi Arabia within 5 minutes. The two goals in a row were reversed, and the biggest upset since the start of the game broke out.
Messi seems to be a little further away from the "Hercules Cup" at the Lusail Stadium-if they lose to Mexico, a team from the same continent, in the second round, the Argentine team will be out early.
This will be a huge blow to the favorites and Messi himself.
The first half of the game on the evening of the 26th made the Argentine sweat again.
Although the Argentine team had a dominant possession rate after the opening, it still failed to transform into an effective attack, and the role played by the midfielder was quite limited. The only outstanding performance in the first half may be that the Argentine goalkeeper Martinez saved the opponent free kick.
On the contrary, the Mexican team's tactics were implemented more clearly.
Is this still the Argentine team imagined by the outside world?
Argentina's football talent seems to have disappeared from under their feet.
When the midfielder left the field, Messi was obviously embarrassed and had a dignified expression.
Could it be that Messi can only stare at the "Hercules Cup" from a distance like before the opening?
On November 26, local time, the match between Argentina (blue) and Mexico in the second round of Group C of the 2022 Qatar World Cup group stage was held at the Lusail Stadium.
In the end, the Argentine team defeated the Mexican team 2:0.
The picture shows Argentine player Messi (middle) dribbling the ball.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
The long stalemate was finally broken in the 64th minute. Messi, who stepped forward like a lone hero, broke through the opponent's gate directly with a "stick to the ground", which seemed to wake up the entire Argentine team.
In the 87th minute, Messi assisted Fernandez, who came off the bench, to score.
A goal and an assist from Messi saved Argentina in this "battle of life and death".
It's Messi again, always Messi, and individual heroism is on display in this game.
For the current Argentine team, the good news is that they are lucky to have Messi, but the bad news is that they seem to only have Messi.
When the team lives and dies, only Messi can stand up.
"In order to win the World Cup, I am willing to exchange all the honors I get." The extreme desire for the "Hercules Cup" made Messi look like a "tragic hero".
Messi scored his eighth World Cup goal in this game, equal to Maradona.
What the Argentines look forward to even more is that he can take over the mantle of "Ball King" and bring the "Hercules Cup" back to his hometown.
Messi, can only stare at the shape of the "Hercules Cup" at the Lusail Stadium from a distance before the start of the group stage, or finally win the "Hercules Cup" at the Lusail Stadium in the final?
How far is he from this football halloween?
(Finish)