when he had the chance to break up, he decided to rebuild

Much was discussed about the metamorphosis of Lionel Messi during the World Cup in Qatar 2022, in times of violent emotions for the phenomenal performance of the Scaleneta in Doha and surroundings. There was talk of a combative Messi, a Messi maradoneano, who overwhelmed with his game, but also with his personality. There was a lot of talk about it, especially after that psychological battle and soccer thriller that was the duel for the quarterfinals against the Netherlands, in which many fell in love with the Topo Gigio that he dedicated to Louis Van Gaal and, even more shocked with his impetuous “go there, fool” who immortalized the hitherto unknown Wout Weghorst, the Dutch striker who had his 15 minutes of fame thanks to the double that rescued his team and his bravado attitudes in the penalty shootout -it didn’t go bad for him: he ended up being signed by Manchester United-.

However, Messi was never Maradona. Nor will it be. It will be, forever, Messi. Be careful, it is not a crime that maradonee like Diego, who many times was patron of the defenseless and champion of lost causes. But Leo is Leo. And he will never stop being. Two great talents, perhaps the two greatest in the history of football, but two completely different personalities. One pure explosion, the other pure correction.

Messi had already made it clear in one of the few interviews he has given since he became world champion when he admitted that he did not like seeing himself doing that Topo Gigio riquelmean who traveled the planet. “I don’t like all that, I don’t like what I did, after that ‘go there’ thing… These are moments of great tension, a lot of nervousness and it goes by very quickly. It does not give you to think about anything, one reacts how one reacts but nothing was thought of. I don’t like to leave that image, but they are things that happen too “The Messi who admired Maradona, but who is far from being like him, was honest. Zero vindication of these behaviors, after all, unbecoming of a sportsman.

The same was verified this Friday, in his most difficult week since he arrived in France. In the midst of a bombardment of rumors, with a sanction that was leaked by PSG to the media, but that was never made official by the club until DT, Christophe Galtieradmitted that it existed and with the ultras enraged, Messi cut his losses and showed a redemptive attitude with which he tried to deactivate the Witch hunt that broke out in Paris after his trip to Saudi Arabia.

Messi, the best footballer of the moment, had no problem showing himself as he is. In a home recording, dressed in a jacket and shirt, without production fanfare -he did not even resort to the assistance of a microphone to improve the sound-, the man who lifted the world cup in the Lusail stadium had no problem facing the camera and assuming his responsibility in this wrong that led to a sanction as exaggerated as unheard of. He put on his face, explained his version of his resounding absence to a training that became a matter of state, and appeased the beasts.

Messi could have redoubled the bet knowing that he will not continue at PSG after June 30. could have handstandin the best Diego style, and responding to the provocation that came from the club’s offices and then raised the spirits of the fans. He had plenty of arguments. But Messi, reflective, appealed to diplomacy and had a conciliatory gesture that, according to the French media, was well received by the club with Qatari capitals. The player, beyond his sporting frustrations, wants to leave France well, despite being a place where -almost- he always experienced a hostile climate.

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