Argentina sought to surround Lionel Messi with top-notch talent, akin to placing “Ferraris” around him, during the 2022 World Cup. This strategic move aimed to unleash Messi’s unparalleled brilliance, and the maestro did not disappoint, orchestrating a stellar performance that led Argentina to their long-awaited World Cup victory after 36 years.
Argentina surround Lionel Messi with ‘Ferraris’
Messi’s brilliance shone through in Qatar, where he demonstrated exceptional leadership, scoring in every knockout game, including two crucial goals in the final. His unwavering composure during an epic penalty shootout against France further solidified his status as one of the all-time greats.
Last Year Lionel Messi gave us chance to celebrate his World Cup and completed football. #HAPPYNEWYEARSKOM pic.twitter.com/YXfnJAXVCO
— Warra Messi (@warra_messi) December 25, 2023
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Argentina’s approach involved optimizing Messi’s impact by sometimes conserving his energy, allowing others to take on the running responsibilities. Matias Manna, a video analyst in Lionel Scaloni’s coaching team, highlighted how this strategy was executed, emphasizing Messi’s crucial role in the team’s success.
“I was always very obsessed with seeing what he needed in the team. And Messi needs good midfielders. The best squad we saw, which for me was in the 2022 World Cup or the current one, surrounds him with good midfielders, and that is one of the secrets of this team.” said Manna.
“Alexis (Mac Allister), (Leandro) Paredes, Enzo (Fernandez), (Rodrigo) De Paul, Gio (Lo Celso) are all Ferraris who know how to stop and accelerate. Other more physical players do not have that quality that I think is the essence of our football.” he added.
Argentina’s devious plan for Messi ahead of WC 2022 Final:
Before the pivotal clash against France, Messi’s strategic input played a significant role, setting the stage for Argentina’s triumph. Another seasoned veteran also played a key part by finding the back of the net in regular time.
We were watching France-Morocco. There was a player, Sofiane Boufal, who constantly outplayed (Jules) Kounde, the French right back. So there, Lio tells me, if Angel [Di Maria] plays, he has to play on that side. I think it was the most important decision in the history of Argentine football.” he concluded.
Messi’s crowning moment came when he lifted the World Cup trophy, a feat that mirrored the achievement of fellow countryman Diego Maradona. Following this triumph, Messi secured his eighth Ballon d’Or and remains a contender for the 2023 FIFA Best Men’s Player award. Looking ahead, he aims to pursue further honors with MLS side Inter Miami in 2024.
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