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Argentina united in belief that this will be Messi’s final moment of glory

Evening Standard

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November 21, 2022

A first Copa America triumph since 1993 last summer has lifted a monkey off Messi’s back

- Malik Ouzia

Argentina united in belief that this will be Messi’s final moment of glory

ON A Twitch live stream last week, Spain manager Luis Enrique suggested it would be unfair if Lionel Messi ended his career without winning a World Cup.

Enrique was speaking with a personal connection, naturally, about a player he coached for three seasons at Barcelona, winning LaLiga twice, as well as, in 2015, what remains the most recent of Messi's four Champions Leagues.

But he is, of course, wrong. There is no divine right to success, even for those blessed with powers that mortals could only dream of. Discussions over who deserves what are for pithy subjective matters, like the Ballon d'Or.

If Messi is to lift the World Cup at the fifth attempt, the moment will be all the more special for the jeopardy and, indeed, likelihood of it never happening at all.

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