The contrast between Messi's popularity in Paris and Buenos Aires is unlikely to disappear with the Argentine superstar. His final game in the French capital, just after Paris Saint-Germain's crushing defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, began with a mockery by spectators at the Parc des Princes about their No. 30 player. Paris then beat Bordeaux 3-0, which did not quell dissatisfaction with the veteran and his team-mate Neymar. But last week, Messi experienced a completely different greeting. Boca Juniors' Bobbononera Stadium is one of the most appealing stadiums in the world, fans are keen to give their idol amazing applause, shocking every corner of the picturesque old stadium, and when Argentina beat Venezuela with a three-goal advantage, Messi repaid the fans with a goal and solid performance.
Two 3-0 wins, but the story behind each win is very different. Messi felt the love of the fans who adored him in his hometown, and after being coldly received in Paris, he breathed fresh air. When the club game became too intense, he wasn't the only player to seek refuge in the national team. "There is a great team here. The fans love me so much and they keep showing me that. I am very grateful," the 34-year-old told reporters after the victory, "and every time I come back to Argentina it helps me a lot." After winning the Copa America, things were even better. Everything was natural and easier on the pitch. Winning makes everything better and easier. ”
Neymar also expressed almost the same view, scoring in Brazil's landslide victory over Chile in Rio de Janeiro, freed from the pain from PSG. "The overcrowded Maracanã inspires me, the overcrowded Maracanã pushes me to do all this, which gives me joy," the midfielder told Brazilian television. The atmosphere provided by the fans today is crucial for us to move further forward. "This feeling of asylum is by no means unique to South America. On the other side of the Atlantic, both Luke Shaun and Paul Pogba are grateful to be able to get out of their predicament at United, even if it's only been a few days, and the criticism of England and France for their frankness only justifies that view.
Although the sample size is small, it can be concluded that for many, even football superstars, club games have become suffocating, harmful and almost unbearable. Part of the problem is clearly that the top teams need to pay for their unusual physical strength. Between club and international competitions, Messi played 60 games in his final season at Barcelona. Even in the current season, he has the potential to break through the 40-game figure. Neymar's problems with repeated injuries can be attributed, at least in part, to the torment of more than a week of games, coupled with the harsh defense of overzealous players in almost every game. Pogba and Shaw have also had multiple breakdowns in their careers, both missing a period of time in the 2021-2022 season.
FifPro, the World Federation of Footballers, notes that there are too many games on the club's schedule and it is difficult for the average player to stay fit. A 2021 report (which has not been ignored so far) calls for the introduction of mandatory breaks to protect their physical health. At clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, such requirements can be said to be more demanding. Here, failure is intolerable and the stars are expected to play at their best every time they play. Although Bayern Munich's Lewandowski is a perfect and reliable professional, he has been sharply critical of the current fixture schedule, saying in 2021's Time magazine: "A lot of people forget that we are people, we are not machines and we can't play every day at the highest level of performance. It's going to be a big problem for football and young players, staying at the top level for years, because now and for the next two years, it's going to be extreme: so many big games. ”
Of course, the physical aspect is only part of the problem, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2017, FIFPro first warned professional footballers of the rampant problem of depression and anxiety, which is much more frequent than in the general population, and that the problem may only be exacerbated by the limitations of the epidemic and subsequent demands on players. As sports psychologist Dan Abrahams said to athletes: "If you have players looking at the schedule right now, seeing the crowded games, and knowing they're not going to have a respite in the summer, you can start to feel the situation, 'I'm not going to have time to rest, I'm not sure if I can cope.'" ’”
In addition to the already exhausting prospects, fans need the team to keep succeeding, and when they fail, players receive bitter criticism. Whether from the stands, or increasingly common, from malicious, often anonymous accounts on social media, interspersed with personal or racist personal attacks. Nor is the problem limited to Europe's biggest clubs. Independent's Domingo Blanco recently revealed that he was forced to take anti-anxiety drugs after being targeted by the Argentine club's own fans, and even received death threats in the tense contract negotiations. Meanwhile, in Brazil, a series of brutal attacks on players have taken place inside and outside the football stadium, resulting in several hospitalizations and many asking the authorities for more protection.
One of the most appealing aspects of football is its ability to change results in the blink of an eye. Of course, not so long ago, Messi's situation was unclear: in Barcelona, Messi was worshipped as a demigod, but at home, Messi was distrusted and criticized. His disappointment with the national team even led him to retire from the national team in 2016 and then change his decision. Still, the fact that top stars are seeking refuge in the national team should be seen as a warning to club matches, not least because the leaders seem to be indifferent to these dangerous signals. There are more races every year, expectations are higher, and the likelihood of failure is greater. In this case, it's no surprise that Messi, Neymar, Pogba, Shaw, and others are happier elsewhere.