Messi and the era of fun: because he finds fun in this World Cup like no other

From the face of disappointment sitting on the bench at Germany 2006 at just 19 years old play every minute with 35 in Qatar 2022. From drought in South Africa 2010 to scoring three goals in four games and having scored nine in total at the World Cup. Starring in the group stage of Brazil 2014, but failing to convert in the qualifying one-on-one by unlocking a new level with his cry against Australia in the round of 16 (first in this case) at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan. From their gesture of concern holding their foreheads in the fateful experience of Russia 2018 to their faces of happiness and total amusement on Arab soil in their 1000th match.

Lionel Messi He is enjoying a World Cup like never before. Indeed, perhaps more or at least in a totally different way from Brazil eight years ago when it was runner-up in the world. All of his expressions reveal fullness. Leo himself recognizes him every time he speaks in the mixed area after every game.

This Cup needs to be tackled in a special, different way. Your days in Doha are a far cry from the hassles, nerves or stress of yesteryear. Here in the Middle East the 10 of the Argentina national team has fun, relaxes, loosens up in training and breaks it at the moment of truth.

Even with that first unscheduled step that triggered internal alarms in the initial week, the captain allowed himself to experience it in a particular way, without going crazy, without sinking into a mental or football swamp.

He carried it forward with that left foot against Mexico and from there it all went straight for La Scaloneta and for him. Against Australia he gave one of his best performances in the World Cup, with another great goal an exhilarating, Maradonean second half.

And after spending a Sunday with his family at the University of Qatar, Lionel Andrés is the last to leave for training camp in the pleasant Qatari afternoon (already at night) to start the first of the four preparation tests on Friday. He talks to Scaloni and starts running after the ball with a smile that reassures everyone. His happiness brings calmness to others.

Why is this the World Cup that Messi enjoys the most? Many causes can be found: the moment of his career, the support of his family, the context of a team that hosts him and has him as its absolute leader, the exit after the maracanazo, the support of an entire country… It is not one; they all form an ideal set around the best player in the world to empower him and elevate him to one of the best versions of him in the blue and white shirt.

His 35 years look very good in Rosario. “For me, with experience and at this age, it makes me see everything differently”, he acknowledged after qualifying for the quarter-finals, where he will meet the Netherlands this Friday. Leo sees things with different eyes. He takes everything with more balance, with less anxiety and focuses on keeping calm.

The age of maturity goes hand in hand with the age of leadership. He was long with the ribbon but was received as captain in the 2019 Copa América, where he didn’t shine but he built his image as leader of the dressing room within a new group with younger teammates. And three years later he definitely is an assimilated role that does not bother him or is unwanted; like it.

There’s a fact that no one wants to contemplate, but this is a great possibility: this could be his last World Cup. And this is another important impulse to make you live every moment as if there were no tomorrow.

Leo plays for him, for his country, but also for his family, especially his wife and above all his three children, who, now older, understand for the first time what a World Cup really is. For this reason, every time he takes the field, the first thing Messi does is look in the stands where his inner circle is. And in each goal celebration, he dedicates them with kisses and raised fists.

Thiago (10 years old), Mateo (7) and Ciro (4) are already understanding that this is the most important competition of all and that the father is the one who leads the national team. Mainly the two older ones ask him about the World Cup and talk to him about the matches, which excites La Pulga and motivates him even more. His children’s admiration makes him proud and this is premium gasoline for him.

Of course, all of this would be much more complex without Brazil’s triumph against Brazil last year which ended a 28-year drought and several final losses. Messi, like Angel Di María, Nicolás Otamendi and even Kun Agüero (already retired), shed a thousand kilos by winning the Copa América to which he then added the Final against Italy. A pivotal click caused the one in 10’s head.

Added to that is the comfort he feels as part of this group both on and off the pitch. Lionel Scaloni was able to get the most out of Lionel Messi to allow him to make the most of it with the AFA shield on his chest. Surrounded by good legs and players who also give a plus of personality, the man from Rosario feels supported by a team that contains him and makes him fly.

It feels dear Lionel. Those voices that hurt him are no longer heard. There weren’t many, it’s true. But they were, in the most difficult moments, the ones that rang the most in his ears. The criticisms of the past (that he didn’t appear, that there was only one Maradona, that he didn’t sing the anthem!) remained in bad memories and for a while he concentrated on the unconditional encouragement of the people and was even encouraged to sing the songs that have him as the protagonist of the letters on the blackboard.

All these factors converge in his figure to pave the way for an era of fun in the Selection for Leo Messi, who is getting all the juice possible. Because the happiest days were always the World Cup.

Doha, Qatar. Special delivery.