MONDAY was the fifteenth anniversary of Lionel Messi’s first goal for Argentina.
It was on March 1st 2006, in the early stages of a friendly against Croatia being played in Switzerland, that Messi cut across the defence – in what was soon to be characteristic fashion – before planting a left footed shot into the far corner.
Lionel Messi, scoring against Serbia in the 2006 World Cup, has 71 goals for his countryCredit: Reuters
Heartbreak against Germany in the 2014 final was the closest Messi got to winning the World CupCredit: AFP – Getty
There is an eruption of joy on the Argentina bench. They know they have something special on the hands, and they are well aware that this is going to be the first goal of many.
But, of course, they have no way of knowing how many.
In fact, there have been 70 more goals for his country, and there is still time for the total to rise.
He is by some distance Argentina’s top scorer, with 17 more than second place Gabriel Batistuta, and more than twice the total achieved by Diego Maradona.
But Maradona has the big prize. The heights he reached in the 1986 World Cup, arguably not seen before or since in the competition, carried Argentina to the trophy.
Messi is still waiting – and at the age of 33, his time in the waiting room is limited.
Back in March 2006 he could already point to the previous year’s triumph in the Under-20 World Cup. And two years later he added an Olympic gold medal. But there is no senior World Cup.
There is not even a Copa America, a tournament Messi has disputed five times and been on the beaten side in three finals. The big one, though, is the World Cup.
Trophies at international level, including the Copa America, have eluded MessiCredit: Getty – Pool
Messi will have the opportunity to finally win the World Cup in 2022Credit: AFP – Getty
The best chance may well have come later in that year of 2006. It was when Argentina had their most solid team in recent years. And this time, it is impossible to blame Messi.
He was left kicking his heels on the bench in the quarter final against hosts Germany. He should surely have been introduced when Argentina were protecting a lead.
Instead he could only watch from the sidelines as his team lost a penalty shoot out.
Four years later he was on the field. But could do nothing as Argentina lost at the same stage to the same opponents – but this time by the margin of 4-0.
By this time the team had clear defensive problems. But Maradona, now coaching, got carried away and selected an ultra-attacking line up which always looked like too much of a gamble.
The 2014 campaign ended in the final, with Argentina once more going down to Germany, this time by a single goal near the end of extra time.
Messi did what he could to carry the side. Come the end of the competition he cut a very tired figure, rationing himself to brief bursts. It was nearly enough, but not quite.
Russia 2018 was an entirely predictable disaster. They lacked the defensive pace and goalkeeping quality to play the type of high pressure attacking game favoured by coach Jorge Sampaoli, and could have crashed out before losing to France in the second round.
Without Messi’s brilliance they would not have made it to Russia. He missed a number of the qualifying rounds, and they struggled desperately without him.
Messi celebrates his last goal in open play for Argentina at the 2018 World CupCredit: Reuters
At 33, Messi’s time is coming to an endCredit: EPA
Messi would cement his legacy as Argentina’s greatest if he wins the World Cup in QatarCredit: Getty – Contributor
Their place was still in doubt going into the final round, when they needed to win away to Ecuador at the altitude of Quito – a task made even harder when they conceded right at the start. Messi scored an extraordinary hat trick to dig them out of trouble.
That was in October 2017. Since then, the numbers tell a worrying tale. In the subsequent three and a half years, Messi has only scored one goal from open play in a competitive match – a memorable strike against Nigeria in the last World Cup.
There have been penalties in the Copa America and in 2022 World Cup qualification. But no more of those trademark bursts across the defence finished off with the shot caressed inside the post.
Does he still have it in him? There is one more crack at the World Cup coming his way in Qatar at the end of next year.
Can he rise to the occasion, and produce the scenes of joy on the Argentina bench that were seen for the first time on March 1st 2006?
Man City slash Lionel Messi contract offer by £170m to £430m as they look to land Barcelona superstar on free transfer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
