The pitch says it all.

"Everything that needed to be said has already been said on the pitch today; any further comments from me would be superfluous." With a voice full of emotion, Lionel Scaloni, head coach of the Argentine national team, responded to a question about captain Lionel Messi's contribution to the 3-0 victory against Algeria on the morning of June 17th.

Messi's first hat-trick in six appearances in the finals, equaling the 12-year-old record of 16 goals held by German legend Miroslav Klose, and being chosen as Man of the Match, all confirm his unwavering class and talent.

Messi was still in the same form as he was four years ago at the Qatar Olympics; in particular, two skillful shots from outside the 16-yard box to open the scoring and seal a comfortable victory for the defending champions once again reminded everyone of the unique "specialty" of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Words fail to adequately describe the talent and character of his brilliant pupil. Scaloni could only share his feelings and concerns as an observer: "The day Messi retires, the football world will experience a great loss." The manager had said this several times before, but few seemed to share his sentiment, mistakenly believing he was flattering his key star to ensure smooth sailing. Fortunately for him, his pupil's 80 brilliant minutes on the Arrowhead pitch served as compelling illustration, making many realize that Messi had already been doing this for 20 years!

Instantly, the past flooded back with vivid memories. The 18-year-old player, wearing the number 19 jersey, with long hair and a chubby, youthful face, made his World Cup debut in Argentina's match against Serbia & Montenegro in Leipzig (Germany). Every run, every shot he took made the legendary Diego Maradona jump up and applaud from the stands.

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Twenty years later, with the same dribbling style, intelligent passes, and curling shots that left goalkeepers helpless, that young man, now a national team player about to turn 39, revived the burning emotions and ignited boundless excitement in the stands.

The loss that the Argentinian captain referred to is precisely the inspiration that Messi brings in every moment he is on the field. Titles and record-breaking milestones are important in a player's career, but there is something even more valuable: the ability to inspire viewers, thereby helping them to appreciate life more and cherish each day.

The image of the poor boy in a remote part of Africa years ago, scavenging for trash while wearing a shirt made from plastic bags with the number 10 and the name Messi scrawled on the back, still reminds us of the joy that the Argentinian captain brings to his admirers.

That boy must have just had a great day watching his idol play soccer.

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Source: https://baodanang.vn/san-co-noi-het-roi-3340746.html