GOOD AIRES –
Leonelli’s greed is not satisfied by the World Cup.
Argentina’s captain executed a free kick perfectly in a 2-0 win in a friendly match against Panama on Thursday at the Monument Stadium in Buenos Aires in front of 83,000 fans, as part of the celebration for winning the title in Qatar after 36 years.
With this title, Messi reached 800 goals in his career at the age of 35 and was one of 100 with the national team.
The Paris Saint-Germain star had failed to score 88 minutes earlier in four attempts – visiting goalkeeper José Guerra, the goalpost and a runner conspired to stop him. With his left-footed boot, Messi had a three-pointer in his step, Messi perfectly completed a free kick from the edge of the area and nailed it into the corner.
Ten minutes from the end, Argentina was able to break the second formation of the invited Panama, which kept its figures and did not bring the Danish-Spanish coach Thomas Christiansen, to engage against Costa Rica on March 28. San José for the CONCACAF Nations League.
In the previous free kick from Messi that hit the crossbar, Thiago Almada capitalized on the rebound and finished with his left foot in the 78th minute. His first celebration was for Atlanta United’s MLS senior team.
Messi’s goal was the icing on the cake of the movement that had started a few hours earlier, and the captain himself closed by lifting the image of the World Cup, in the recreation of the award ceremony in Doha after beating France 4-2 on penalties. they should send on the last day of December 18
“I want to thank you for all the love received, not only for the world championship, but also before with the Copa America. We told them that we would do everything so that they could win this,” Messi said while taking the microphone.
“Let’s enjoy this because we’ve gone a long time without a favor and we don’t know when we’ll win again. It’s very difficult to win the Copper World, it depends on many things, sometimes because of the little things that you can’t achieve. Let’s enjoy the third one, in a meeting.
The star went from disappointment after losing four finals with the Albiceleste to put himself on the same footing as Diego Maradona, the hero of the 86 World Cup.
Messi, who a week ago was booed by the French party sector after elimination from the Champions League, then toured the Olympics with his teammates.
Argentina’s fans, which FIFA has awarded the “Best” in the world, accompanied them to the tune of “Muchachos”, the anthem of Priyata, with which he encouraged both teams of Leonelli Scaloni in Doha.
Pope Francis gave a double blessing to the World Cup, children who had just learned to walk wearing the number 10 shirt, Lionel Messi’s stars and alabaster blue and white flags stood out before the first presentation of the Argentina team. with three stars on the shield.
“This World Cup has become a miracle,” Marcelo Saracho, 49, told The Associated Press, who arrived as the Argentine Pope with pale blue and white cheeks.
“The stars have come together: my father, (Diego) Maradona and Messi,” said a fan outside the stadium where the world champions will be honored.
“I can’t believe I’m here,” cried 12-year-old Sofía Clavero, almost in tears, wearing an alternate purple Argentina jersey with the captain’s name emblazoned on the back as she arrived at the stadium. He will see his “idol” playing on the field for the first time.
Several parents carrying babies in the No. 10 jersey stood out among the blue-white tide that transformed the stadium’s Plata River stadium, a setting that usually hosts national team matches.
Young people Melanie and Jonathan held a celebration to earn some money by selling the costumes with the figure of the prince for the equivalent price of 10 dollars.
“The harvests gave great joy to us Argentines because we are having a hard time,” said the couple, referring to the economic crisis that the South American country is suffering.
The tickets, with an average cost of $100, sold out in just two hours after they went on sale online.
The evening had a moonlit event from fans who could not get to the stadium, apparently because they did not have tickets or they were fake, and they clashed with the police in matters before the start of the match.
The officers were dissuaded with tears. So far, the traditional evicts no.
Argentina will continue the festivities with another friendly against Curaçao on Tuesday at the Madre de Ciudades stadium in the province of Santiago del Estero – also sold out.
