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Lionel Messi would have loved to have had Diego Maradona witness Argentina’s 2022 World Cup success. As reported by LiveScore, the PSG star wishes Argentina legend Maradona had been alive to hand him the trophy in Qatar last month.
Maradona, who passed away in 2020, previously inspired the South American nation to World Cup success in 1986, where his magical displays guided Argentina to their second trophy in the competition. Messi produced similar heroics in Qatar, with the iconic attacker scoring seven goals to drive Argentina to their third title.
Messi wishes Maradona had witnessed success
Messi netted twice in the thrilling 3-3 final against France, with the Argentine securing the Golden Ball for his stunning displays in the competition last month. He narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot too, with France man Kylian Mbappe edging out Messi by just one goal.
While the PSG forward is thrilled to have finally won the award at the fifth time of asking, his only regret is that Argentina legend Maradona was not alive to hand him the trophy.
Maradona coached the attacker at the 2010 World Cup, and is a legendary figure back in the South American nation and indeed in footballing history.
“I would have liked Diego to give me the cup, or at least to see all this, to see Argentina as world champions, with everything he wanted and how he loved the national team,” said Messi. “I think from above, he – like a lot of people who love me – was strong.”
Messi: There’s nothing left
Much of the world was supporting Messi and his teammates in the competition last month, with the ex-Barcelona man undoubtedly deserving of the prestigious trophy for his efforts over the last 20 years for club and country.
He has clinched several La Liga and Champions League titles, along with being awarded the Ballon d’Or on many occasions, with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominating much of the headlines in world football for the past two decades.
Despite the countless individual and club achievements at Barcelona and PSG, the star had not seen much success on the international stage.
But the miserable rut ended when he helped Argentina lift the Copa America trophy in 2021, which was quickly followed by the World Cup in 2022. Despite calls for him to continue, it seems that the 35-year-old will not compete at the next World Cup in 2026.
He is, however, more than satisfied with finishing his international journey with Argentina at this stage, saying: “I think if I had to choose the moment, it would have been this one. It’s at the end of my career, closing a cycle.
“I achieved everything with the national team as I always dreamed. I got everything in my career, individually. It was about closing my career in a unique way.
“I never imagined that all this was going to happen to me when I started, and getting to this moment was the best. I have no complaints and I can’t ask for more. We won the Copa America and the World Cup, there’s nothing left.”
One month ago 🏆 pic.twitter.com/mKcS83faKL
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) January 18, 2023
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