It’s Now Or Never Lionel

Written By Omolagba Oluwayemi

Arguably one of the best ever to have grazed the planet earth, Lionel Messi will be remembered forever especially for the beauty and joy he has brought to the game of football alongside his compatriot, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Before his arrival, football has been popular but his arrival made the sport even more popular and had it not been for Ronaldo, he would have dominated the football world alone for more than a decade, although some argue that it’s the competition between both players that led to their long time dominance as others could not just catch up with them.

There is no one in the world of sports that doesn’t know him, infact he’s more popular than most of the presidents governing countries of the world, if not even more popular than all of them.

Ask a little child who Messi is, he would happily tell you but ask that same child who the president of the United States is, he might be needing the help of google to answer that.

His success on the pitch of-course is visible for even the blind to see and his humility off the pitch cannot be sneaked.

Having played only for Barcelona since he moved to Europe in 2003, Lionel Messi has won 34 trophies including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies.

I’m sure he’s lost count of his individual awards. Fourty-seven on records, few among the notable ones being: six Ballon d’Or, six European golden shoe, seven Pichichi La Liga, nine La Liga MVP, six Champions League top scorer.

In all of his achievements, there is one trophy missing and that his the International trophy for his national team, La Albiceleste.

With only two age grade trophies for his country (U-20 World Cup & Beijing Olympic Games Gold Medal), many especially in Argentina believe that Messi is no where near Argentine legend, Diego Armando Maradona, who singlehandedly won the México 86′ world cup for Argentina although some would argue he’s closer, same level or even better but the truth is his lack of international trophy at the senior national team level could sway the argument in favour of the former.

Lost the FIFA World Cup final in 2014, Messi has also lost the Copa America finals on three occasions (2007, 2015 & 2016) and with his contemporary, Christiano Ronaldo winning UEFA Euros and UEFA Nations League with Portugal, Messi has been termed a national team failure.

In 2016, Lionel Messi out of frustration shocked the world when he announced his retirement from international football after Argentina’s defeat to Chile in the final of Copa America Centenario, although he overturned his decision later, but Argentina got worse than before, struggling to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and going into this year’s Copa America, many never saw them as contenders especially with their struggles at the start, but to the surprise of the world, they are into the final which will be played at the Maracana Stadium on Sunday against hosts and eternal rival, Brazil.

This could be Messi’s last appearance at the Copa America, although should still be around with the national team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and an opportunity to win an international trophy will present itself before the magical left footed footballer again but in a very tougher and more difficult situation.

Standing as an obstacle to this achievement is Brazil who are also witnessing some trying times, but hoping the Copa America win can ease the pressure on the Brazilian people at least for some time.

To lovers of Messi and Argentina, they want him to win this and to the lovers of Ronaldo, they want him to fail so Ronaldo can have this over him when debates on who is the greatest among the two arises.

Having gone this far, it won’t be nice for Messi to miss it again and knowing quite well that the World Cup is a different tournament entirely with bigger teams than they’ve got in South America, and the chances of even making a final there very slim, it won’t be bad if he loses his legs to win this.

No doubt Messi is one of the greatest to have played the game of football and he will be remembered for as long as the game and the world exist but If he wants to be remembered as the greatest ever footballer in Argentina and the world at large, IT IS NOW OR NEVER.

Do you have a story tip?
Kindly Email: keepup@bettitude.com

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube

About Author