LIONEL MESSI: A Legend's Journey To His Final Peak

 

                                                                                             Image: Lionel Messi

Magical, Genius, Brilliant, Greatest of all time, Legend etc. All these terms and more have been used to define the Great football Legend Lionel Messi. The Argentine has made a name for himself all over the world by his extraordinary football skills. People believe that he was born to play football and from his early stages people could easily predict that he would go on to become one of the best football players in history. However, the greatest people do have the most difficult journeys. Lionel Messi’s was no different. His club career was the one that put him in the limelight as he went on to break records after records, won individual awards and trophies, and provided many magical goals and moments for his clubs. The international career of Messi was the biggest challenge for him. He was the star man for the Argentina national football team from a long time ago.His biggest dream was always winning the World Cup for his nation which takes place every 4 years so very few footballers receive this enormous accolade.All The pressure and expectation of the fans were on Messi but he kept on failing.


Fifa World Cup Germany 2006

In 2006,a 19-year-old Lionel Messi began his World Cup journey. He made his debut against Serbia as he was subbed on the 76th minute. He scored in that game and Argentina won 6-0. Argentina went on to the knockout stages where they defeated Mexico in the round of 16 stage but then went on to lose to the hosts Germany in the quarter-final on penalties and were knocked out of the World Cup.



Image:A 19-year-old Lionel Messi celebrates as he scores on his World cup debut in 2006.(image credit


Fifa World Cup South Africa 2010

The next World Cup took Place in South Africa in 2010. Between the years 2006-2010 Messi had the most amazing start to his career. He started to get more and more famous everyday and in 2009 he even won Ballon d'or which is the best player of the year award. Thus, in 2010 the pressure on Messi was huge as he was the star man and the number 10 of the team this time. However, this turned out to be a poor world cup performance from him as he could not score a single goal throughout the whole tournament but they still reached the quarter-finals but were once again eliminated again by Germany in a very poor 4-0 loss

Image:Lionel Messi disappointed as Argentina crash out of the World Cup following a 4-0 loss to Germany 




Although the 2010 World Cup was very disappointing for Messi. One of the best times of his career at the club level was between the period 2010-2014. Messi won the Ballon D’or  for 3 consecutive years ,in 2011, 2012 and in 2013. Within this period he had already established himself as one of the best footballers ever.However, people started to say ‘Without a World cup he cannot be the best footballer of all time’.



Fifa World Cup Brazil 2014

The next World Cup was held in Brazil in 2014. It was one of Messi’s Golden opportunities as team Argentina looked strong that year and Messi was in his prime as he was 27-years-old . Messi was of course the star man for them but this time the pressure was on even more as he was the leading side as the captain of the team. In this tournament Messi was on fire, as he bagged 4 goals and 1 assist. He was the one creating most chances, making the important passes and also scoring throughout the tournament. Argentina went to the Final of the tournament. Only winning one game was the barrier between Messi and his biggest dream. This time once again the last hurdle was Germany in the final who knocked them out twice in the last two world cups.This time it was again devastating for Messi as he failed to put up a great performance in the final and Argentina were once again knocked out of the World cup as Germany went onto score in extra time and the score was 1-0 and Argentina won the silver medals and Messi won the ‘Golden Ball’ which is given to the best player of the tournament.

Images:Lionel Messi devastated after Losing the 2014 World Cup Final Against Germany.(Pic credits:Bleacher report, Tribuna.com and eurosport)




Copa America 2015 and 2016

Messi was looking for an international trophy for a long time. In 2015, he had the chance to win the Copa America tournament where the best teams from South America like Brazil, Uruguay,Chile etc participate. Even if it is not the World cup, Messi desperately wanted an international trophy. In Copa America 2015 Messi and Argentina went to the Final but lost to Chile on penalties. In 2016, The Copa America was held again and Argentina went to the final again but they lost to Chile again on penalties and this time due to a penalty missed by Messi himself. The losses in the finals disappointed Messi so much that he considered retiring from the national team.



Image:Lionel Messi after losing 2015 Copa America final against Chile(Image credit: Eurosport)


Image:Lionel Messi breaks down  into tears after missing a penalty and  losing Copa America 2016 final against Chile.(Image credit:The Economic Times)

Image:Lionel Messi retires from the National Team after losing in another final against Chile in 2016.(image credit:bleacher report)




MESSI TAKES ARGENTINA TO FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA 2018

Messi came out of retirement to play for the national team again after some months and started to prepare for World Cup 2018, Russia. This time Argentina were in a very bad state as the team was looking very weak as they were almost on the verge of not qualifying for World cup 2018. They say ‘the best players give their best performances when they are needed the most’.’In a must win game against Ecuador, Messi scored a hattrick to send Argentina to the Fifa World cup Russia 2018 in the last days of the World Cup qualifiers.


Image:Lionel Messi and co. celebrate as they qualify for world cup 2018 after a Messi hattrick(image credit:Bleacher Report)





FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA 2018

Although Messi's heroics sent them to the World Cup did not go very well for Argentina, somehow they managed to qualify for knockout stages but got knocked out in the first knockout stage, the round of 16 by France. Yet Another failure for Messi in the World Cup.Everyone Thought this was Messi’s last world cup as he was 31-years-old and he would be 35-years-old by the next one.

Image:Messi after losing against France and getting knocked out of the 2018 Final.(Image credit:India Today)





FINALLY AN INTERNATIONAL TROPHY FOR MESSI 

In 2019, Messi again lost the chance to win Copa America getting knocked out by Brazil in the semi-final. This time he still did not give up and kept on going.In the year 2021, the Argentina team looked new,fresh and full of talent. The main thing about the team was its chemistry and the brotherhood in the team. Finally, in Copa America 2021 Messi won his first ever International trophy after years of failure and patience. Argentina defeated arch-rivals Brazil in the final by 1-0 and won the tournament.



Image:Lionel Messi and team celebrate winning Copa America 2021.(Image:Eurosport)





THE LAST DANCE

Although Messi finally won an international trophy his biggest dream was not achieved yet. He wanted the World Cup more than anything. He was quoted saying he prefers 1 World cup rather than 5 best player of the year awards. The Argentina team looked strong especially in terms of team chemistry. They did not have all the best players in the world; it was their teamwork that made them so great. The next world cup was held in 2022. This was Messi’s last chance for sure for world cup glory and it was the best chance with such a great team.Argentina team were undefeated and were on fire going forward to the World cup.

                                                                           

                                             

Images: The great respect for Messi from his teammates.(image credit:Goal and sportskeeda)



FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR 2022

Argentina entered the 2022 world cup undefeated for 36 games and as one of the favourites. Lionel Messi led the side. However, in one of the biggest world cup upsets Argentina lost their first game against underdogs Saudi Arabia. Messi told the supporters to not lose hope and that the team will not disappoint the fans. This showed his confidence for the team. In the next game Messi scored a banger from outside the D-box and Argentina never looked back as they went onto win every other game in the tournament. Argentina defeated Australia, Netherlands and Croatia in the knockout stages and set up a final against the then world champions France. This Final turned out to be the best final in world cup history with a very close and tense match.Argentina went on to win on penalties after a 3-3 tie and Messi also won the golden ball. Messi’s biggest dream was finally achieved after all those years of failures, difficulties and pain. The King was finally crowned.The Legend finally conquered his final peak.

                                                                                      

    

 

Images: Messi After winning the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022.(Images credit:NPR, DW and NBC sports


To know more about this legendary journey:

https://www.goal.com/story/lionelmessilegacy/index.html


                

Done by: Mustafa Inquiad Azim(22204232)
and
Omar Ali Siam(22299363)

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