The FIFA World Cup 2022 is just around the way, featuring athletes from 32 nations vying for football's top honour. Players will probably perspire a lot due to the humidity in Qatar and may need to take several drink breaks, but the competition will undoubtedly never achieve its glitter or splendour or the spirit it brings.
With both players carrying the hopes of millions of people from their respective countries as well as around the world, the World Cup in Qatar may be the final competition for 35-year-old Argentinean Lionel Messi and 37-year-old Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo.
Even though Messi tried harder every four years to inch closer to the ultimate triumph, he was never able to win the World Cup. Argentina exceeded many people's expectations in Brazil and Russia despite having an ordinary team and little options on the bench, but they lost matches they ought to have won.
This is no longer the case, as Argentina is no longer dependent on seasoned players like Javier Mascherano. Argentina is currently considered the favourite to win the World Cup and break its 36-year trophy drought.
When Leo made his World Cup debut in 2006 as a 16-year-old, he played alongside Juan Román Riquelme, Pablo Aimar, Esteban Cambiasso, and other veterans on a team that was equally as powerful. This is the moment he has been waiting for.
La Albiceleste has a good chance of making it out of their group—which also includes Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland—and moving on to the knockout rounds. They would face the Group D runner-up, which also includes France, Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia, in the knockout rounds if they won the group. Messi and his team will be trying their hardest to avoid a repetition of their 4-3 loss to France in the Round of 16 from the 2018 World Cup.
Messi and Argentina learned from the 2014 World Cup that teamwork is more crucial than waiting for Messi to pull a rabbit out of a hat and perform a miracle. During the 2014 World Cup final, Germany was mindful of the threat that Messi presented. They were glad to open up the game for Argentina and permit shots from the former Barcelona player. But due to a late extra-time goal by Mario Goetze, Argentina was unable to score and dropped the match 1-0.
In addition to accomplishing the goal of bringing about change after the World Cup, the decision to fire manager Jorge Sampaoli and replace him with his assistant Lionel Scaloni also offered the national team a much-needed boost. Scaloni, a well-liked presence in the dugout, inspired his team and helped them win their first Copa America championship since 1993.
If they maintain their current form, which includes a 35-game unbeaten streak, 25 wins, and 10 draws, it will be difficult for elite teams in the competition to defeat South Americans.
Qatar might be the ultimate test for Messi to cap off an accomplished career spanning 17 years. Fans also hope for a miracle in Qatar, a bitter-sweet moment, and the icing on the cake of one of the greatest footballers in history's magnificent career.