After the Croatia debacle: “And now, Messi?”

The eyes were red and swollen. Lionel Messi suffered and he will probably continue to suffer. An elimination by runner-up Argentina at the World Cup would be the lowest point in the international career of Diego Armando Maradona's successor. Game number 127 in the Albiceleste dress could be Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini's last next Tuesday against Nigeria - two days after his 31st birthday.

He suffers because, as in the humiliating 0-3 defeat against Croatia on Thursday evening in Nizhny Novgorod, he simply cannot get the team excited like he does season after season at FC Barcelona. He suffers because his deepest wish is probably unfulfilled and he remains unfinished as a footballer. He has played 17 World Cup games so far, Messi scored five goals, all in preliminary round games.

How did Messi react after the defeat against Croatia? It was the second very serious blow for Messi in six days. After missing a penalty in the 1-1 draw against Iceland, he threw the ball into the air in frustration after the final whistle and tore the captain's armband off his arm. This time? Messi resigns. The look empty and lost. He just wants to leave. His expression turns stone, he sneaks past everyone without greeting and is the first to sneak off the lawn. As soon as the Argentine anthem was playing, he stroked his forehead; it seemed as if he was trying to hide. Not a minute had been played yet. Why can't Messi inspire his own team like Cristiano Ronaldo does? Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli says it is not the right time to compare the two. Maybe yes? Ronaldo has already made this World Cup his stage. Two games, four goals. Portugal owes four points to him alone. He also led the team to the European Championship title two years ago, even if he had to go out injured early in the final. Ronaldo is obsessed with winning and being the best footballer in the world and best of all time.

Messi is obsessed with playing football. Of course with success. But Messi must consider himself a failure in the Albiceleste. He needs a team that understands him, he is a good footballer and also needs an oasis of well-being on the pitch. For Ronaldo, resistance and obstacles as a child and teenager only made him stronger-willed and more obsessive. How likely is a withdrawal if you are eliminated from the preliminary round? The probability is high, even if Messi has not commented on this. He resigned once two years ago. It was after losing the Copa América final, for the second time in two years Messi had lost with Argentina on penalties against Chile. Messi missed his penalty. There was also the loss of the World Cup final in extra time against Germany in Brazil in 2014 and another in the Copa América in 2007.

“There have already been four finals. “It doesn’t seem to be my thing,” said Messi, explaining his resignation at the time. But he came back a few weeks later and said the country already had enough problems. He led Argentina to the World Cup with a hat-trick in the decisive game in Ecuador. And now he is faced with nothing for the World Cup. “And now, Messi?” asked the Brazilian sports paper “Lance”. Is Messi also to blame for the defeat against Croatia? Coach Sampaoli took full responsibility. And he defended Messi. In his opinion, those who play with Messi are. In a nutshell: The team is wasting their star. “Leo is limited because the team is not playing with him the way they should,” Sampaoli said. “We couldn’t pass the ball to him so he could create situations like only he can.”

Messi only scored his five World Cup goals in preliminary round games. When it mattered most, Messi wasn't there. He was disappointing in the final four years ago. He had 20 ball contacts in the first half against the Croatians. For someone who is supposed to drive the game and who has been used to being attacked by two, three or four players in club games for years, this is a downright ridiculous figure. What happens to Argentina if they are eliminated from the preliminary round? It's not just Messi, it's his generation. For example Sergio Agüero, Angel di María, Lucas Biglia. Or Javier Mascherano, Nicolas Otamendi. Another World Cup? At the age of 34 or more? They can't get any better. Messi would be 2022 years old in Qatar in 35. In 2005, Messi became Junior World Champion and was the top goalscorer and best player at the tournament in Canada. The hopes of bringing him and his contemporaries their third World Cup title to Argentina after 1978 and 1986 were huge. In 2006, 2010 and 2014 it was almost always the same players who were important.

A total of eight coaches, including Maradona, have worn out the Albicelete since Messi's debut in August 2005. Continuous work with a foundation for the future was not possible. The future seems like the present at the moment, anything but sky blue and white.

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After the Croatia debacle: “And now, Messi?”

Argentina is facing elimination from the World Cup after losing 0-3 to Croatia. The focus is on Lionel Messi. The genius will probably not be able to win the big title again. World Cup and Messi, that just doesn't fit.

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