Lionel Messi don close im chapter with Argentina national team, but di emotions from im farewell still dey show. One video wey Adidas release show never-seen-before pictures of im last moments inside di Albiceleste shirt. Di video show one more private side of di footballer, away from goals, records and trophies.
Wen dem ask am wetin e go tell di Messi wey just dey start im journey, im answer simple: ‘Make e enjoy. Make e enjoy things more.’ After dat, one deeper thought follow: ‘Actually, I no know if I still realize everything I achieve for football.’ Dat line capture part of one career wey e live almost always at full speed.
Among pressure, titles and di constant obligation to compete, Messi now admit say maybe e no always get time to stop and measure di road wey e don waka. Im relationship with Argentina carry different different moments. Painful defeats, criticism, lost finals and years wen di big title with im country seem like e no wan come. But e never stop to answer call-ups.
‘I dey enjoy to come. I do am for more than 20 years and e no easy to leave,’ e talk. Im farewell come after one stage wey e also change im story with di national team and build one kind bond with Argentina fans wey for long time be full of ups and downs.
Messi remember say with Argentina e experience both extremes of football. ‘I experience loss, I experience win,’ e explain. Before e summarize wetin representing im country mean to am: ‘To wear this shirt pass everything and na dat way I always try to defend am.’
Dat journey follow almost im whole career, from di years wey e turn Barcelona legend to im current stage with Inter Miami. Clubs change, but di national team remain constant for more than two decades.
Di closing come for one place wey look like e write for di occasion. Messi play im last match with Argentina for Estadio Monumental, before more than 85,000 fans and against Benin, for one night wey end with 3-0 victory.
At 39, Messi dey leave Albiceleste after 208 matches and 126 goals, but e never leave football completely. E go still dey play as long as im body and im hunger allow am, but one huge part of im story don already close.
