Chinanews.com, Nov. 27, title: Messi again, always Messi
Author Liu Xingchen
There is only one protagonist, Messi.
The left foot shot a cold arrow at the front of the penalty area, and the ball flew close to the ground, piercing through the ten fingers of Mexico's "Goalkeeper" Ochoa.
With such a shocking world wave, Messi pulled the Argentine team back from the cliff.
The picture shows Messi breaking the goal.
He has done this kind of thing too many times.
He did it again in Argentina's 2-0 win over Mexico early this morning.
After an upset loss to Saudi Arabia in the first game, behind the irrevocable Argentine team is the abyss of missing the group stage.
For them, the game against Mexico early this morning was a life-and-death battle of "lose and go home".
Even so, fans still believe in Messi, just like believing that the sun will always rise as usual.
When Messi rewritten the score to 1:0, no words can describe the feelings of the fans who stayed up all night at that moment.
The Lusail Stadium, which can accommodate nearly 90,000 people, boiled instantly, and the tearful Argentine fans roared with all their might, and the emotions that had been suppressed for a long time finally had an outlet.
As soon as the camera turned, Aimar, who was sitting on the Argentine coach's bench, covered his face and cried. This former genius midfielder was Messi's idol when he was young.
Like all fans, he has been looking forward to this moment for 64 minutes in a suffocating game.
The picture shows Messi celebrating a goal.
When Messi turned the tide again, he opened his arms and hugged his teammates with relief.
At that moment, Messi finally smiled.
"Today we know we must win. Every game is a final, and we cannot make mistakes." From Messi's post-match interview, it is enough to feel the pressure on him and the team.
When his teammates turned around, Messi, who was standing alone on the sidelines, blew a kiss in the direction of the audience.
Not far from him is a poster portrait of Maradona.
The picture shows Messi celebrating after scoring.
For Messi, this goal has special meaning-this is his eighth World Cup goal, equal to Maradona.
"Diego (Maradona), this is dedicated to you!" Many people were guessing what Messi was thinking at the time.
The picture of this pair of master and apprentice joining hands to compete in the World Cup seems to be just yesterday, but the reality has changed.
The picture shows Messi in the game.
The 35-year-old Messi is no longer the chasing boy. This is his last chance to realize his dream.
Leading the team to win the Hercules Cup is not only Messi's long-cherished wish, but also the memory of a generation of fans for their youth.
They still remember that in the midsummer of 2006, a long-haired teenager wearing the "No. 19" jersey started his own World Cup journey.
That year, the 19-year-old Messi was still a "teenage player" in everyone's mouth.
Before the start of the World Cup, he scored his first goal for the national team in a friendly match against Croatia.
When the "little player" Messi stepped onto the World Cup stage, Maradona on the sidelines raised his arms and shouted. He believed that the young man in front of him would be the future leader of the Pampas Eagles.
In the World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro, Messi contributed a pass and a shot, and the "genius boy" became the youngest player in the history of the Argentine team to play in the World Cup.
In that cup, Argentina was eliminated by the host team, Germany, and stopped in the quarterfinals.
But Messi's first World Cup experience is enough to be described as "amazing".
Data map: Messi in the game.
Another four years passed.
When he appeared in the World Cup in South Africa, Messi had already been honored.
The Ballon d'Or, the World Player of the Year, the league's "terrorist" shooter"... an era that belongs to Messi has arrived.
In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Maradona was in charge of Argentina.
In the group match against Greece, the 22-year-old Messi became the youngest captain in the history of the Argentine team.
In the quarter-finals, Argentina encountered the German chariot.
This time, they lost again.
Looking at the lost disciple, Maradona's eyes were full of distress.
But he still firmly believes that his choice is not wrong.
On July 3, 2010, in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Africa, after Argentina lost to Germany, Maradona hugged and comforted Messi.
But fate always likes to play tricks on people.
In the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the 27-year-old Messi was at his peak.
However, the experience of the Argentine team has become an unforgettable feeling in the hearts of fans for a long time.
Argentina all the way to the final, the opponent is the German team.
In the final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Messi stared at the Hercules Cup.
Image source: Visual China
"In order to win the World Cup, I am willing to exchange all the honors I get." Facing the Hercules Cup that is close at hand, Messi's desire is self-evident.
However, after 120 minutes of fierce fighting, it was the Germans who took away the victory.
What is left to Messi is the lonely figure staring at the Hercules Cup.
During the World Cup in Russia four years ago, Messi was in his thirties, and the years had left some signs of aging on his face.
After a thrilling advance to the group stage, Argentina and France met on a narrow road.
In that game, Mbappe became a god in the first battle and led the "Gallic Rooster" to keep Argentina out of the quarterfinals.
When the dust settled, Messi stayed in the middle of the pitch for a long time.
Against the backdrop of his opponent's celebratory figure, his back was even more dejected.
Messi didn't say a word when he left the pitch.
So, a voice began to ask: "Messi, are you old?"
Qatar contributed goals in two consecutive World Cup games, saving the team from fire and water.
Messi, who is four years older, gave the answer with actions.
His answers don't stop there.
Before the end of the game against Mexico, Messi assisted Enzo Fernandez to seal the victory.
With this assist, Messi made history again and became the first player to have assists in 5 consecutive World Cups.
Messi gallops to his young teammates to celebrate the win.
The pampas eagle spreads its wings at this moment, flies over the cliff, and flies into the future.