Mesi was Overwhelmed After the Win Over Mexico

Legendary Soccer Player Lionel Messi sang and danced with teammates beyond midnight into Sunday after leading Argentina to an emotionally-charged win over Mexico that revived his dream of a first World Cup title.

The dressing-room party scenes – Messi leaping with both hands in the air, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez dancing on a table – in his fifth and final chance to lift the trophy showed just how much the tournament meant to Argentina and their captain.

Argentina has one of the most talented squads in Qatar, but they are under immense pressure and are struggling to reproduce the free flow of their three-year, 36-match unbeaten run ahead of the tournament. So it was understandable to see their stress melt away after Saudi Arabia beat Mexico 2-0 to ignite their tournament after an early defeat. Although they struggled in the first half against a mediocre Mexico team, they celebrated as if they had just won the World Cup.

“It’s a weight off our shoulders,” said the 35-year-old Messi, for whom this tournament is now the be-all and end-all of his dazzling career for club and country.

After scoring the first goal against Mexico, his second of three for Argentina in the tournament, Messi pointed to cheering fans. Messi’s childhood idol, assistant coach Pablo Aimar, broke down in tears as he sat on the bench.

Argentines have sometimes struggled to warm to their little genius, in part because he has not delivered the biggest trophy of all, but also due to his shy and quiet demeanor compared to the flamboyant clowning of their beloved former golden boy Diego Maradona.

Such ambition now appears firmly in the past, however, as Messi has repeatedly shown how committed he is to the shirt, not least when he led the team to the Copa America title last year. The 28-year-old had collapsed in tears after committing. Trophy drought of the year.

In the end, there are more flags and banners with his name and face than any previous great No. 10s. Many show the two together, hand in hand, or Maradona looking down on Messi gracefully from heaven.

Should Messi go on, he will certainly equal Maradona, who led Argentina to a famous 1986 World Cup victory, including his famous “Hand of God” and the best tournament goal against England. If he falters, however, he will remain in Maradona’s shadow, but it looks like he will still be revered by Argentines, who have come to appreciate the passion and pain he truly felt in blue and white. Have done

“Did you see how he ran to us and celebrated with us? This is our Messi. Now he is also our Maradona. They are one!” said Argentine fan Rodrigo Castro, 34, celebrating euphorically outside the Lusail Stadium into the early hours of Monday.

Coach Lionel Scaloni was happy to see his players enjoying the moment in the dressing room but knows that the weight of expectation is weighing on his players. Even Messi looked slow and made basic mistakes before scoring against Mexico and everyone knows there is comfort in the player.

“It’s difficult to make people understand that tomorrow the sun will shine whether you lose or you win,” Scaloni said, trying to make sense of the constant circus around his team.

“Happiness lasts only for some minutes. We need to find that emotional balance, whether we win or lose.”

Once the emotions have died down, Scaloni must prepare for Poland in Argentina’s final group game, when only a win will guarantee them passage to the knockout rounds and move one step closer to fulfilling Messi’s dream.