BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Zhongxin.com) -- "This will definitely be my last World Cup. ”
Messi who came to Qatar, 35 years old. Attending the pre-match press conference, he said it was his "last dance" at the World Cup. The Argentine has expressed this idea to the outside world more than once in the past.
At 18:00 Beijing time on the 22nd, the Argentine team will appear in Qatar to face the Saudi team. Unknowingly, Messi ushered in his fifth World Cup journey. In front of the camera, he talked and laughed with the media, laughing like a child.
The picture shows Messi holding his seventh Ballon d'Or trophy.
Until this time, many people realized that the "battle" between Messi and the Hercules Cup had come to an end. Sixteen years ago, the long-haired boy was in high spirits, and now, the "Plum Ball King" is eager to fill the last gap in the honor roll.
"Young general" Messi
"No. 19 Messi is ready to play, young Messi, ushered in the first game of this World Cup."
The summer of 2006 outlined the first memories of a generation of "legends". That year, Messi was 19 years old. Before the World Cup in Germany, the Argentine star scored his first goal for the national team in a friendly against Croatia.
The World Cup, the grandest gathering of football people. When Messi stepped onto the stage for the first time, Maradona on the sidelines cheered, believing that the long-haired young man would be the future leader of the Pampas Eagles.
Infographic: Argentine coach Pekelmann comforts Messi.
Messi became Argentina's youngest player to play in the World Cup, but how can the "talented boy" be satisfied with this? In his World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro, Messi contributed a pass and a shot.
So, everyone remembered Messi's name and was optimistic about the art of football he displayed. In that tournament, Argentina stopped in the quarterfinals. Messi's first experience of the World Cup is enough to be described as "amazing".
Infographic: Messi in the game.
"Ball King" Messi
What can you do in 4 years on the green field? For Messi, that's enough to give him honor.
In the 2007 Copa America, Messi was named the best young player of the tournament. A year later, he led the team to win the Olympic championship in Beijing.
Ballon d'Or, World Footballer of the Year, league "horror" goalscorer, Messi's growth rate is amazing. In other words, the era that belongs to Messi has arrived.
At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Maradona took charge of Argentina. To Messi, he gave everything he had. In the group stage against Greece, the 22-year-old Messi became the youngest captain in Argentina's history.
On July 3, 2010, after Argentina lost to Germany in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in South Africa, Maradona hugged and comforted Messi.
In the quarterfinals, Argentina faced the German tanks again, this time, they still lost. In South Africa, Messi did not score a goal, but unlike four years ago, he became the number one star in that team.
Career "uneven"
In 2014, the experience in Brazil may be the difficulty of Messi's career.
At that time, he was 27 years old and in his prime of fighting. Coming to the World Cup for the third time, the Argentine wanted more.
In the group stage opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Messi helped Argentina extend their lead with a volley. He roared and celebrated after the goal because he had been waiting for eight years for this World Cup goal.
Infographic: Messi celebrates victory.
In the second game against Iran, Messi scored the decisive goal in stoppage time. He walked around the arena to celebrate, and that is what the "Plum Ball King" wanted to see.
All the way to the final, in front of Argentina, it was Germany.
"In order to win the World Cup, I am willing to trade all the honours I get." Facing the Hercules Cup at hand, Messi's desire is self-evident.
But as his free-kick went above the goal, Messi shook his head and smiled bitterly. The 0:1 score was a bit dazzling for Argentine fans.
That year, Messi won the World Cup Ballon d'Or. But the lonely eyes of his gaze at the Hercules Cup made many people feel distressed.
thirty years old
When he came to the World Cup in Russia, Messi was already in his prime, and the years left some traces of old age on his face.
That tournament was perhaps the most questioned Messi, with the outside world asking, "Messi, old"? After a thrilling advance in the group stage, Argentina met France on a narrow line.
Data map: The picture shows Messi's expression of loss after the game. Photo by Mao Jianjun, reporter of China News Agency
In the match, Mbappe led the "Gallic Rooster" to keep Argentina out of the quarterfinals.
When the dust settled, Messi stayed in the middle of the stadium for a long time, his eyes full of helplessness. Against the background of the opponent's celebratory figure, his back was even more gloomy. When he left the stadium, Messi did not say a word.
The Last Dance
Another 4 years, another World Cup.
The voice of "Argentina wins" can be seen almost everywhere on social media. It turns out that perhaps this is their last chance to fight alongside their idols in the World Cup.
The final dance, the perfect curtain call. Behind these eight words is the long-cherished wish of the "Plum Ball King" and the farewell of a generation of youth.
At Hamad International Airport, fans arriving in Qatar printed Messi's motif on their clothes.
With a few hours to go, Messi will make his World Cup debut in Qatar.
Regarding the rumors about injuries, Messi said bluntly, "The body feels very good. I came to Qatar in a great state, both physically and mentally. Talking about today's team, Messi thinks of Argentina in 2014. Only this time, he wanted to have the last laugh.
When the speeding "teenager" is about to stop in the familiar arena, everyone wants to see a successful script staged.
The protagonist is Leo Messi. (End)