World Cup finalist Argentina was born in the Mineirão locker room on July 3, 2019. In the defeat to Brazil in the Copa América semifinal that year, players said they noticed that something was forming.
Experienced names such as defender Nicolás Otamendi described a feeling of “belonging” to a new process, different from previous selections.
After being beaten 2-0, the team started an undefeated sequence of 36 matches, a series ended only by Saudi Arabia, in the debut in the Qatar Cup.
“Something is starting. You have to believe in this team”, completed the defender days later, when the team beat Chile 2-1 in the dispute for third place.
Argentina, which was limping in the tournament, played its best match against Brazil and the crowd that packed the Mineirão. The revolt was directed at the refereeing of Ecuadorian Roddy Zambrano. The complaint was for the non-marking of two penalties. In one of them, Tite’s team started the counterattack and scored the second goal.
The Maradonian version of Lionel Messi, so cited in Qatar, was born that night in Belo Horizonte. He stated that the tournament was “set” for Brazil to win. He accused Conmebol of corruption and complained that Argentina could not be part of it.
“I don’t think it’s right for him to say something like that. It doesn’t even sound like Messi,” complained former Barcelona teammate and friend Daniel Alves.
It didn’t look like it, but it was. In the next game, against Chile, the number 10 was expelled in the first half and later doubled the bet on the scolding.
“They took us out of the final. I hope the referee and the VAR don’t influence the decision and that Peru can compete because it has the team for that. But I see it being difficult”, he added, citing the confrontation of the following day, when Brazil defeated the Peruvians by 3 to 1 in the title match.
It was the birth of Messi that intimidated Dutch striker Weghorst with the “What will you aim for, fool?” phrase that fans in Qatar are printing on their national team shirts. He became a symbol of the country at the World Cup.
Two years later, in 2021, Argentina would return to Brazil for the Copa America and defeat the hosts 1-0 in the final, at Maracanã.
“In a way, it all started in that semifinal match in 2019. That created a feeling of unity and a desire to give Leo something to be proud of”, said defensive midfielder Leandro Paredes, a starter in both matches.
Not by chance, at the final whistle and confirmation of the title, the number 10’s first expression with the national team, all the players ran to embrace him.
Lionel Scaloni has always dismissed this view of Messi’s change of leadership and the team’s growth because of what happened at Mineirão. He points out that his most important player has always been an undisputed technical reference and that the evolution of the selection was a process that resulted in the campaign at the World Cup.
But the history of statements made by other athletes about Messi has changed. He was always praised by his teammates. But after 2019, as it was a transition phase, with veterans leaving and younger people entering, the tone of the words changed. It became worship.
Even in Qatar this happened. It was after qualifying against the Netherlands that Scaloni said that Lionel was not just the greatest player in the world. He was the best in history.
“I was happier for him than for myself with the Copa America title. When he speaks, everyone is silent. It’s as if the president of Argentina was speaking,” said goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
“What can I say about Messi that hasn’t already been said? Thank God I’m Argentine. He’s the best in the world,” said defender Lisandro Martínez.
Defeat to Brazil, a year after the Russian Cup fiasco, could have brought the experience with Scaloni to an abrupt end. He was a coach with no previous club or national team experience. But adversity made the cast rally around him.
Six players who started that night at Mineirão could start this Sunday against France: Otamendi, Tagliafico, Paredes, De Paul, Acuña and Messi.
Also present in that defeat, Armani, Foyth, Montiel and Lautaro Martínez will be on the bench against France.
“We cannot kill a new generation,” urged Messi after that setback with Brazil three years ago.
The reward is having reached the World Cup final.
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