In Kansas City, all attention ahead of the Argentina vs. Algeria match is focused on star Lionel Messi. Coach Lionel Scaloni admitted that not only Argentinians but fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting to see the 1987-born superstar play in the match marking his 200th appearance for the national team.
"Not only Argentinians but the whole world want to see him play. Messi has a special appeal to all fans, no matter where they come from," coach Scaloni shared.
Coach Scaloni understands Messi's value better than anyone else. Both were born in the Santa Fe province of Argentina, spent time at the prestigious Newell's Old Boys academy, and together wrote glorious chapters for Argentine football.
After experiencing a minor hamstring issue before the tournament, Messi showed positive signs. In the final friendly against Iceland, he came on as a substitute, scored from the penalty spot, and played the full 20 minutes without any problems.
Unless there are any last-minute surprises, the Argentina captain will reach the milestone of 200 appearances for the national team during the match against Algeria.
"There's nothing negative to say about Messi. He's always present, always plays an essential role for the team, and will continue to do so," Scaloni emphasized.
Messi fever sweeps through Kansas City.
Messi's charisma is evident on every street corner in Kansas City ahead of kick-off.
At a fan meet-and-greet with the Argentinian national team, Tapash Chakraborty, the owner of a technical design company, arrived very early simply to catch a glimpse of his idol. "Messi is the god of football," said the 57-year-old man.
Throughout the event area, jerseys with the number 10 were ubiquitous, from those of Argentina and Barcelona to Inter Miami.
Michelle Lemmon, who drove over 250 km with her four children to Kansas City for her 42nd birthday, also admitted it's hard not to love Messi.
“This could be his last World Cup. We feel fortunate that Kansas City was chosen as Argentina’s base and have the opportunity to welcome the world champion,” she shared.
Messi aims to match Pele's achievement.
Messi has long been ranked among the greatest players in football history, alongside Brazilian legend Pele.
Now, he has the opportunity to add another special milestone: helping Argentina successfully defend their World Cup title.
Historically, only two teams have won the World Cup consecutively: Brazil and Italy. France came very close to achieving that feat but lost to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.
Veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi said that winning the championship four years ago remains a great source of motivation for the entire team.
“What happened in Qatar was amazing. The whole country united as one. But we must not become complacent. The whole team must continue to work with humility,” Otamendi said.
According to the 38-year-old defender, Messi still maintains his fighting spirit despite having conquered almost every prestigious title in his career.
"He always craves victory. We want to be by his side, support him, and fight alongside him. When the ball is rolling, the whole team must unite and fight like a family," Otamendi affirmed.
For Messi, the milestone of 200 appearances for Argentina may just be a number. But for football fans around the world, it could be one of the last times they will witness a living legend of world football shine on the World Cup stage.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/hlv-argentina-ca-the-gioi-dang-cho-messi-post1851915.tpo
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