The Messi drama: No.1 at Barça, No.10 with Argentina
Argentina aren't dead but they smell like a corpse. They're playing football from another era and have a coach on the sidelines who is looking for help. In the middle of so much disappointment, Lionel Messi is lost in a team that doesn't measure up. They still have the hope of beating Nigeria and staying in the world Cup, but they way they have played so far doesn't pave the way to much hope in reality.
If Saint Messi doesn't appear, they're condemned to leave Russia as a failure. Meanwhile, everyone who leaves passion to one side and analyses football more strategically has been able to confirm something which we discovered a while ago. There are two Messis, the one that plays at Camp Nou and the one who plays for the Albiceleste. Leo is the No.1 in the world when he plays for Barça but he's the No.10 when he wears an Argentina shirt. It's not his fault, either. It's the environment. As much as Jorge Sampaoli has tried to build a team for him, he hasn't been able to. They're not on his level.
The World Cup is proving a real siege for Messi. He doesn't lift his head, he doesn't speak with anyone, he doesn't understand how everything can be going so wrong. He is sunk, bewildered, sad. He'd like to disappear. And what is worse, he knows he will be the biggest victim if Argentina are kicked out at the group stages, the centre of the most fierce criticism.
Right now, Argentine football is a tragedy, the passion and the pride have been hit. One point against Iceland and a loss against Croatia. At 30, Leo is going through one of the toughest moments of his career. Elimination would signify the end of his time with the national team and a goodbye to a tournament which is not among his honours. He came to Russia full of hope and so far he's been given the toughest kick in the ribs he's ever had in the game.
From this soap opera, which raises passions in Argentina and keeps Barcelona fans in suspense, three conclusions can be drawn:
1.- Argentina, even with Messi, aren't good enough. It's the end of a generation.
2.- Messi is a great team player but is not capable of resolving games on his own.
3.- Playing for Barça alongside the greatest players has been the best thing that could happen to Messi.
Messi's effort, courage and enthusiasm made it possible for Argentina to catch the last train to Russia after a disappointing qualifying campaign. But this is a national team not capable of more, however hard Sampaoli tried.
Having the best player in the world serves for nothing if the goalkeeper Willy Caballero and Javier Mascherano touch the ball more than him. One player alone cannot save a team that playes constant tactical in-definition, a different line up in every game and a constantly changing system of play. That's how Messi's magnificence with Barça can be transformed into a discreet Messi with Argentina.
