Lionel Messi dedicated Argentina’s world title to Diego Maradona. The 35-year-old attacker did so in an open letter on his Instagram page.
“From Grandoli to the World Cup in Qatar, almost thirty years passed,” Messi begins his story. “It has been three decades in which football has brought me a lot of joy and also some sadness. I’ve always dreamed of becoming world champion and I didn’t want to stop trying, even though I knew it might never happen,” he admits.
“This cup is also for all those who didn’t make it through the previous World Cups, like Brazil in 2014, where everyone deserved it because of how they fought to the final. This cup also belongs to Diego, who has encouraged us from heaven,” Messi writes. “And from all those who have always supported the national team.”
Mbappe still residing in Martinez’ head after the hat-trick
In related news, during the festivities of the Argentina team, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez once again behaved disrespectfully towards Kylian Mbappé. The 30-year-old goalkeeper was swept up in the taunts of fans on the streets of Buenos Aires.
Four million Argentines took to the streets on Tuesday to honor their heroes. It eventually became so crowded that the safety of the players was at stake, as people tried to jump into the open bus from viaducts. That’s why the festivities ended early: the selection of the world champion was taken away by helicopter.
Before it got out of hand, there was already a lot of derision towards Mbappé. The Frenchman, who celebrates his 24th birthday today, got the short end of the stick despite a hat-trick in the final. Mbappé was subsequently the target of ridicule in Argentina. Martínez already shouted for ‘a minute of silence for Mbappé’ while partying in the dressing room. Despite conceding thrice in the fixture and then being unable to stop his penalty shootout and thus set the tone.
On Tuesday, a cardboard sign with an image of Mbappé was set on fire. Other supporters had stuck Mbappé’s head on a doll, as if the Frenchman were a baby. They threw it at Martínez, who was partying on the bus. The Aston Villa goalkeeper apparently enjoyed it, because he was enthusiastically waving the doll, with Mbappé’s teammate at Paris Saint-Germain: Lionel Messi next to him.
