She was exploring the contradiction she felt around her support of Lionel Messi: “a player who is a God and a man who shakes Trump’s hand”. Lacombe highlighted the importance of acknowledging the complexities around Messi and the Argentinian team. How is it possible that Messi was not speaking out against the racist incidents we all saw around the Argentina team, she asked.
Much was made of Messi’s silence at the time. Then again, much has been made of his visible discomfort with words throughout his epic career. Journalist John Carlin once said that having interviewed Messi twice, he would decline a third opportunity, such was the challenge of getting the little giant to say anything of consequence.
In 2010, Juan Sebastián Verón said he had never seen Messi as nervous as when he had to address his teammates for the first time as Argentina captain. In terms of public speaking, perhaps Messi’s most famous outburst was at the 2022 World Cup when he told a Dutch player to “go away”. Despite this reticence, Messi has always meant something, even when he doesn’t speak.
Messi and Argentina were treated as darlings when they won the World Cup in 2022. By the time the 2026 final ended in defeat to Spain, they had become villains. That we just feel,” Lacombe said after Argentina’s semi-final victory over England this summer.
It’s only in that moment of intense passion that we reach the sacred.” Not everyone surrendered to the sacred in the same way. The final against Spain lacked sublime power and opened the floodgates of vitriol from all corners of the globe. Argentinian fans were offended, hurt, defensive and aware they may have just seen Messi’s last appearance in an Argentina shirt.
When he confirmed he would end his international career – his final appearance for Argentina came against Benin on Tuesday – a wave of grief and gratitude swept the nation. Messi grew up in Barcelona’s youth system, and he was eligible to play for both Spain and Argentina. His debut for Argentina – in a youth match against Paraguay – set up a rush to ensure he pledged his allegiance to the country of his birth, before Spain could tempt him.
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