It was “a conversation rather than a classic interview” and, that day in October 2022, in Lionel Messi’s house, as questions gave way to thanks, “personal memories suddenly came up” in the mind of Pablo Giralt, suddenly moved to tears in front of the cameras. “I was in front of the player I admire the most and at that moment I realized how lucky I was to have been able to support him during his career,” explains the famous commentator from the Argentine channel TV Pública. Sometimes the human and the professional mix. »
Filmed before the start of the last World Cup won by the Albiceleste, the sequence illustrates the change in tone adopted by the Argentine media and supporters since the Copa America 2021. “With this title, people finally understood what Messi represented for the country”, estimates the local Grégoire Margotton, in reference to the arrows which fell on the eight-time Ballon d’Or after the numerous finals lost by the selection (World Cup 2014 and Copa America 2007, 2015, 2016).
“A sacred character”
“It was mainly criticism of frustration, not a questioning of his sporting value,” analyzes former goalkeeper Sergio Goycochea, 1990 world vice-champion with Argentina. And there was this incessant comparison with Maradona, who had brought a star to the country. Football generates a lot of emotion here because Argentines swear by success. Fortunately, he was able to give the people what they asked for. »
Since the spectacular standoff won against the French team in Qatar (3-3, 4-2 on penalties), Messi has become “untouchable forever”, judges Gastón Edul, reference reporter for the channel. TyC Sports television, who believes that the shift began in 2016, when number 10 “took an ephemeral international retirement and those who criticized him understood what they could lose”. Memories erased by triumphs: part-time admiration transformed into absolute worship, in a country which was moved by the repeated whistles of which its God was the target at PSG.
Lionel Messi received his eighth Ballon d’Or from David Beckham, who brought him to Miami this season. AFP/Franck Fife
“He has become a sacred figure,” continues the journalist, who held the microphone when the Argentine genius insulted Wout Weghorst, at the end of the quarter of the Electric World Cup won against the Netherlands (2-2, 4- 3 in tab). An astonishing stroke of blood which also strengthened the popularity of Messi, including the reply thrown that evening at the Dutch striker (“What are you looking at, idiot? Get out there”, in French) has entered everyday language and has been produced in numerous derivative products (t-shirts, mate gourds, beach towels, etc.).
Moreover, the face of the former Barcelona player is omnipresent in Argentina, where frescoes and tattoos bearing his image have proliferated in recent months, as have the pink jerseys of his new team, Inter Miami. In short, all the clouds disappeared and, while many compatriots seemed victims of amnesia, the 1978 world champion Mario Kempes even sent him a public apology after having scratched him. “We will thank him for eternity,” swears Mauro Cejas, loyal member of Hinchas Argentinos, the main group of supporters of the selection.
“I got into disagreements with my friends every time they criticized him, but that’s in the past,” admits Christian Lobertini, another fan, who, at the beginning of September, paid 1,900 euros to take his family to the United States. United to see Messi play with the Florida franchise. Even exiled in MLS, the 36-year-old Argentinian continues to occupy a central place in the news: Argentina’s only sports daily, the newspaper Olé, has mentioned him in 44% of its front pages since July 15, the date of the formalization of his signing in the North American League. Sergio Goycochea smiles: “We all dream that he never stops playing.”
