Lionel Messi boldly stepped out of Diego Maradona’s shadow to steer Argentina to a wonderful World Cup victory final yr. A grand statue of the diminutive ahead will now stand alongside these of his commemorated predecessor and Brazil’s incomparable Pele on the South American Football Confederation’s museum.
Holding a reproduction of the World Cup trophy, Messi stood beside the life-size statue at an unveiling ceremony on the South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL) headquarters in Luque, Paraguay, earlier than the Copa Libertadores draw on Monday.
The 35-year-old emulated the late Maradona by main Argentina to their first World Cup triumph in 36 years in Qatar in December.
“I had never dreamed or thought about this,” Messi mentioned. “My dream was to take pleasure in what I preferred after I was little, to be an expert soccer participant, to do what I at all times cherished on this life.
“I had a really lengthy street, many selections and defeats, however I at all times seemed forward and needed to go for a triumph, for a victory.
“I think that is the most important thing, to fight for your dreams, that everything is possible, and to enjoy the game, which is the most beautiful thing.”
The Argentina gamers and coach Lionel Scaloni additionally acquired miniature trophies of the World Cup and the Copa America, which they received in 2021.
The Argentine Football Federation renamed the nationwide crew’s coaching facility after Messi on Saturday, two days after he scored his 800th profession objective in a 2-0 pleasant win over Panama.
Messi has scored 99 objectives for his nation and would turn out to be the primary Argentina participant to web 100 worldwide objectives if he scores in Tuesday’s pleasant in opposition to Curacao.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
