Argentine Football Association don announce one poignant tribute to Lionel Messi. Dem go leave him iconic No.10 jersey vacant for upcoming international fixtures. The legendary forward set to pull on the famous shirt one last time in one specially arranged farewell match against Benin at Estadio Monumental this October.
E never finish completely. Lionel Messi go return a week on Wednesday for him formal farewell in friendly against Benin. But before that, Argentina face two games when dem go begin to experience future without the most potent get-out-of-jail-free card football ever know.
Messi international career fall into two distinct halves. There was first decade when people get sense say he no quite fit, as if he no be enough Argentinian, as if he no care for him country. That one always absurd and now people fit recognise am as manifestation of Argentinian public frustration at their trophy drought, even with one of best three to play the game for their forward line.
Then Messi retire. He distraught after missing penalty for shootout against Chile in Copa América final in 2016. Suddenly, Argentina no just lash out at their biggest star; dem forced to confront wetin e mean to live without am. The prospect so appalling e provoke mass campaign to encourage Messi to reverse him decision.
Since then, dem love am. Despite shambolic World Cup in 2018, he deliver with two Copas América, one World Cup and another World Cup final. Him career dogged by accusation say he never match Diego Maradona achievements in national shirt; he end up win more.
This retirement no go overturned. Messi na 39. Those wey persuade am to change him mind in 2016 maybe imagine six more years; dem get 10. No second thoughts this time. The rupture real. When things go awry, Argentina no go fit turn to superhero inside dem midst and ask am to fix am.
Best example come almost at end, when Argentina trail Egypt 2-0 with 11 minutes of their World Cup last-16 tie remain. Barcelona youth team coaches used to talk about teenage Messi getting the face on, and once e happen, he unstoppable. E happen in Atlanta: e be like Messi simply decide say that one no go be him last World Cup game. Argentina win without extra time.
Optimists go draw solace from fact say Argentina best performance under Lionel Scaloni probably come in their 4-1 victory against Brazil in World Cup qualifier in March 2025, when Messi no play. Even allow for odd tactical choices of opposing coach Dorival Júnior, Argentina exceptional. Leandro Paredes anchor midfield as Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández link well with Rodrigo De Paul and Thiago Almada on flanks and Julián Alvarez at centre-forward.
But football no be only about when things dey go well. Even in bleak times, years of doubt under Edgardo Bauza and Jorge Sampaoli, when games dey spiral out of control, there was always possibility Messi go put things right. But Argentina now get to deal with future without that get-out potential.
Post-Messi future begin next week with games against Bolivia and Burkina Faso. Scaloni don hint say he go sign contract extension wey go take am through to 2028 Copa América with option to 2030 World Cup. That one at least go provide measure of stability, but e hard to hide say new cycle dey begin, just as Scaloni institute new era after 2018 World Cup.
Other than Messi and Nicolás Otamendi, who dey retire after Benin valediction, Scaloni name 35-man squad. Of those, 20 were at World Cup; given say Paredes and Nahuel Molina dey serve lengthy bans, that represent remarkable degree of continuity, although Nicolás Tagliafico, at 34, also understood to dey consider him future. But 12 of squad don play three internationals or fewer and De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, who dey their thirties, go play only against Benin, giving new cohort space to impress in first two friendlies.
Biggest opportunities, at least in short term, look like say dem dey for back. Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez, both 28, look likely to be first-choice central defensive pair, but Valentín Gómez of Real Betis and Tomás Palacios, on loan at Estudiantes from Inter, dey compete to be back-up. With Molina suspended, Tagliafico ageing and Gonzalo Montiel injured, real interest though dey for full-back, where pair of 22 year olds fit stake claim to be future: Agustín Giay of Palmeiras and Román Vega of Zenit.
In Messi absence, question of formation still dey. Although that Brazil game show wetin possible through inter-movement even without plenty overt creativity, e fit be say Scaloni go opt for more traditional wingers. Again young options dey: Leonel Flores of Boca Juniors and Roma’s Matias Soulé likely to make their debuts over next few days. And replacing Messi? That one just not possible, either for tactical level or, maybe more significant, for wetin he mean for spirit of team.
No be say Argentina need Messi to play well. A purist fit even argue say Argentina play better in that game than dem ever fit play with Messi, or at least the pedestrian Messi of late, because of him lack of movement and the way game had to be built around am. That na always danger with individualists, but Messi so spectacularly consistent that percentage option na to rely on him extraordinary genius, and true extraordinariness na how reliable e be.
No matter how well-organised opposition defence be, possibility, even probability, dey say he go find opening. No matter how badly things dey go, chance always dey say he go get the face on and sort everything single-handed. Plenty sides don find new fluency, more team-based dynamic, after major star move on. Argentina ceiling fit conceivably rise, but Messi offer reassurance, possibility of salvation, wey dem go miss well well.
