The name of Maxi Rodriguez is not unfamiliar to Argentine fans, after all, he has played for the Pampas Eagles for three consecutive World Cups, but he played until the age of confusion or exceeded the psychological expectations of many fans, and even in the public impression, Maxi has long been "retired".
After all, he fell back to his roots at the age of 31, and since then, it has been difficult to search for his news in the mainstream news.
Maxi's retirement at Newell Old Boy is the most satisfactory ending, although he has not been able to achieve "one person, one team, one person, one city", even though he briefly joined Penarol in 2017 after the fall of leaves, loyalty and faith have never been blurred by the years, and he even persuaded Messi to return to Newell Old Boys.
At the end of his career, Maxi, who had experienced countless storms and waves, cried in front of 40,000 fans, and endless applause and brilliant fireworks filled this farewell-themed night.
Maybe he should have retired a long time ago, after all, he was born in 1981 and belongs to the "older youth", maybe he can still support himself with a passion, after all, a few days ago, he also contributed a beautiful free kick, but he has the right to yearn for another life.
Looking back, after 22 years of long career and 672 games, Maxi Rodriguez has never been a king or a superstar, but he is known as a perfect team player, but he has a unique charm, and even Messi specially wishes: "It is the honor of my life to fight with you." ”
Maxi was born in an ordinary family in Rosario, Argentina, malnourished he grew up short, even when he first played football, he could not buy a jersey and legging board suitable for his own size, but later developed his height suddenly soared to 1 meter 8, very strong, so the 18-year-old Maxi made his career debut in The Old Boy of Newell, although the playing time was not abundant, but from the forward to play in the midfield, he was considered to be a malleable talent, the third year of his career, Maxi has scored 15 goals in 33 games, living up to his mission, and as he leapt ahead of his next self, he still remembers being a child with nothing.
But this is by no means a masterpiece of Maxi's young fame, in the 2001 World Youth Championship, when the outside world touted Saviola and D'Alessandro, as the oldest member of the team, Maxi Rodriguez grabbed the limelight in front of his hometown father, in addition to being rotated in the third game of the group stage, he almost witnessed Argentina's victory as a main player, and more unexpectedly, he scored 4 goals, known as "an attacking midfield with a forward effect", and running forward without the ball is his characteristic.
After the world championship gilding, liuyang is the common choice of the young players, different from the teammates who joined the giants, he joined the Spaniard, the combination of the unpretentious Maxi and the decent La Liga team is actually very happy, at least in temperament and status.
The €6 million investment did not make Espanyol adrift, but became a model for the club's excellent value for money deals, in the three years of playing for Espanyol, Maxi scored a total of 31 goals for the team, averaging 1 goal per 3 games was impressive, especially in the 2004/05 season, the Argentine became the team's top scorer with 15 goals in 37 games, which is considered the peak of his career, and even more bizarrely, he only missed 4 games in his 3 seasons with Espanyol, and later, Many fans know that Maxi has enjoyed the title of the most expensive signing in espanyol history.
Although he made his debut for the Argentine national team under Bielsa in 2003 and followed his mentor Peckermann to the 2005 Confederations Cup, he witnessed the feat of his former teammates winning the 2004 Olympic Games as a spectator, and he has confessed more than once that this is his heart knot.
But after playing well in La Liga, he has since achieved a timely stop loss, and successive participation in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups is the best illustration, not to mention that he has scored 12 goals in 43 appearances for the Argentine national team, although not the most dazzling star, but definitely one of the most conscientious players, left and right, attack or defense, he will go all out, otherwise he would not have a "Mr. Diagonal" nickname.
Maxi's memories of the Pampas Eagles are inseparable from two classic moments: the first was the 2006 World Cup quarterfinals, Where Maxi scored a picturesque world wave in extra time to help Argentina eliminate Mexico, a goal that was named the best goal of the 2006 World Cup and was also dubbed "Maxi Golazo" by Argentine fans, "I lent him my left foot!" "It was Maradona's praise for him;
The second time was the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup, and Maxi Rodriguez made his fourth appearance, with a powerful right-footed shot into the dead corner, 4-2! Argentina returned to the World Cup final after 24 years.
"What position can I play in the national team? Right forward and left forward are no problem, and both backs can also be played. I like to play a little more openly, but can also adapt to any changes in midfield. This is his interpretation of the blue and white faith.
Although there is no elegant style of play, no handsome face, but the big scene attribute of him is not only liked by the mentor Peckerman, Maradona's debut in charge of the national team also benefited from his goals, when Messi, Aguero and Riquelme all hung up the exemption card, since then, Maradona as the opponent manager when visiting the old boy, will also take the initiative to greet Maxi, is nostalgic for the master, but also cherish the tough opponent.
Perhaps some fans have lamented his giant career, after all, whether in Atletico or Liverpool, Maxi, who is plagued by injuries, has not fully shown the competitive state of the Argentine national team, and has only won a League Cup title, but he does not think so, and does not think that this is a yardstick to measure gains and losses.
He believes that "Atletico are the perfect family", he has enjoyed applause at Calderon, he believes that "Liverpool is the only club in England", and has set the record for the fastest goal of the 2010-11 Premier League season. Maxie has never advertised himself as a hero or a superstar, he came with blood, and now he retires with tears in his eyes, but he enjoys his own special moments like a hero or a superstar, the veteran does not die, he deserves it.
- "Why have you insisted on playing until now?" ”
- "Happiness is enough!" ”