Great simplicity: why the Ballon d’Or should be named after Lionel Messi

After a sensational loss to Saudi Arabia in the first game of the 22 World Cup, leaving the group from the first place, trudging through difficult matches with Australia and the Netherlands in the playoffs, the Argentina national team defeated Croatia in the semi-finals and reached the final of the World Cup. This team success would not have been possible without the captain, the best player of our time, Lionel Messi. “MK” explains why the little Argentine deserves the right to football immortality.

Before I start singing praises and praising Leo, I need to apologize. Two days ago I wrote that neither he nor the Argentine national team would win this World Cup in Qatar. Yes, yes, that’s exactly what he wrote: “Messi’s World Cup doesn’t shine.” Not for the sake of a red word, but because of certain personal beliefs. And a simple desire to see a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final. It’s good that I was wrong.

Authoritative experts will undoubtedly conduct a comprehensive analysis and analysis of the semi-final duel between Argentina and Croatia. They will explain to us in detail why albicelesta was stronger. In what components of the game did she surpass the Croats, due to which she managed to reach the final of the tournament so convincingly and on business. And they will say a lot of other smart and fair things. It’s not for me to compete with them. For me, the more interesting human, personal nature of this phenomenon called “Messi”.

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How many records has the Argentine broken and how many new achievements has he set? If you start listing them, you get from here to Canada. He has seven Golden Balls alone. So far, it is even impossible to imagine who else will be able to win so much, not only in the foreseeable future, but in general. And these awards are not the result of blind worship of a football idol, they are the real result of daily hard work. Overcoming oneself.

Messi is destined to be compared with another great footballer, his contemporary, the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo. He also achieved so much that even putting someone else next to these two players is simply indecent. And Ronaldo, like Leo, made himself, bit by bit collecting his talent from sweat and blood. But every time I look at the Portuguese, for some reason, the word “dude” involuntarily comes to mind. A rude and completely unfair word, but I can’t help myself.

From Ronaldo a mile away it breathes gloss. Capricious, arrogant snobbery. He tries very hard to be like everyone else. He speaks the right words, performs humanly noble, sincere deeds. Not on the field, but in everyday life. And yet he is not one of us. Perhaps that is why lately, more and more often in his words and behavior, a sense of his own superiority slips.

But I can easily imagine Messi playing football in the yard with ordinary boys. Messi is one of us. Wait, the guy from the next street. He even rejoiced at the victory over the Croats in a simple way, swearing live after the final whistle: “Final! We are back to recharge our batteries to play another great game. Many thanks to everyone who believes in this team! Forward, Argentina, ***! Leo shouted at the camera. He shouted after not only scoring and giving assists in this game, but also plowed in defense, on a par with his teammates. Friends not in words, but in deeds.

And next is Ronaldo’s post on social media after Portugal’s 6-1 crushing victory over the Swiss in the 1/8 finals: “An amazing evening for Portugal, with a historic result in the biggest competition in world football. Luxurious exhibition of a team full of talents and youth. Congratulations to our team. The dream is alive! Until the very end! Come on Portugal!

For some reason, I just want to shout “I don’t believe it!” After all, there is no escape from the rumors that he was going to leave Qatar, unhappy with the fact that Fernando Santos put him on the bench. As well as Ronaldo’s break with Manchester United, where they rushed with him like with a written sack. And he was all capricious – “This team, which does not play in the Champions League, is not a cap for Senka.”

Messi is very simple. But this is great simplicity. Sincere and natural.

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Lionel is now only 35 years old. Not the most critical age for a modern football player. However, he does not prevaricate, stating that the final match in Qatar will be his last game in the world championships. “I am very happy that I was able to achieve this. I will complete my performances at the world championships by playing my last match in the final, ”Ole quotes the Argentinean. It is not known how his football fate will develop further, but Leo knows that he needs to leave on time. Handsomely.

But Ronaldo will not calm down. Intriguing. Correio da Manha reports that the decision of the 37-year-old Cristiano about his future in the national team and his intention to make it to Euro 2024, among other things, will depend on the future of Fernando Santos as head coach of the team. If he resigns and Mourinho is invited to take his place, then Ronaldo may stay.

And this is also some kind of gloss.

RBC sports journalist Grant Getadaryan wrote in his telegram channel after the Argentina-Croatia match that the Ballon d’Or should be named after Lionel Messi.

And it will be fair. Because the Argentine has earned his right to football immortality.