Javier Mascherano’s first memory was of the “smallest of them all”. For Pablo Zabaleta, he was “so quiet that you didn’t notice his presence”. Sergio Agüero’s reaction upon meeting him was “who the hell is this kid?”.
Years later, the three would form part of what became known as Lionel Messi’s “mesa chica” in the national team. Group which also included Gonzalo Higuaín, Sergio Romero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marcos Rojo. It was the group of friends of shirt 10.
In his farewell at World Cups, he goes solo. None of his old teammates are in the national team anymore.
“The boys in this new team are wonderful. We have a barbaric group”, praised the captain anyway.
Many times, the expression “Messi’s friends” was used as criticism. It was the group that had to be always on the pitch for the best player on the team not to be unhappy. As if the crack commanded a pan.
“This is ridiculous. Do you really think someone plays for Argentina because they are friends with Messi?” said Javier Mascherano before the 2018 World Cup fiasco.
It was with them that Messi went through more difficult moments than good ones with the alviceleste shirt. He was slaughtered in Russia for his apparent apathy. Ironized in 2010 for saying goodbye to the World Cup without scoring a single goal. Accused of not being Argentine in the 2011 Copa America elimination and “failed” because of the defeats in the finals of the continental tournament in 2015 and 2016.
But he sees in the squad that is in Doha preparing for this year’s World Cup a resemblance to another team.
“From what I feel, I see our group similar to that of 2014, with the whole process until we reach the decision. It seems to me very similar on that side of a group that was built, created a group and mental strength. important”, he defined.
He refers to the team that lost to Germany in the World Cup final in Brazil. Until the assembly of the current squad, Messi defined that period, under the command of Alejandro Sabella, as his happiest time in the national team.
But with his group of friends, mesa chica, whatever the name, he couldn’t be champion with the national team. With the current squad, he won the 2021 Copa America. And Argentina landed in Qatar as one of the favorites for the title, supported by an invincibility that has lasted since 2019.
Under the command of Scaloni, a former winger who was on the field when Lionel made his debut for the national team, in 2005, in a friendly against Hungary, the number 10 had to find new partners. All younger who idolize him.
“When I met him for the first time and he came to talk to me, I couldn’t believe it. It was incredible that I was next to Leo,” said defender Lisandro Martínez.
Alongside another Martínez, Lautaro, Messi found offensive chemistry. In Rodrigo De Paul, he found someone capable of fighting to recover the balls and help him with attacks on the attack. Enzo Fernández can play the younger and more protected role he once had.
From a boy who was little noticed when he didn’t have the ball at his feet, he became, at the age of 35, the veteran who enjoys goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez’s taunts to his opponents.
And this Messi, wearing the shirt of the national team, is a winner. What’s better than simply having a group of friends to play truco or video games.
“We are always the best, the candidates, but it wasn’t always like that. A World Cup is very difficult. There are many things that need to go right to be champion, and several teams want the same as us. If we are not well, there are already many who will be.” best.”
Alongside Ángel Di María, De Paul, Nicolás Otamendi, Leandro Paredes, Lisandro Martínez and Juan Foyth, Messi was one of those who did not enter the field in Argentina training this Friday (18). He just did exercises at the gym.
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