When Gonzalo Montiel slotted in the final spot kick, Messi fell to his knees, and Leandro Paredes was the first to hug the undisputed GOAT. The redemption was complete. More than a billion people wanted Messi to lift the World Cup. That desire came true exactly a year ago, on 18 December 2022.
I have been a fan of both Italy and Argentina in international football. As a 10-year-old, I watched Italy lose to France in extra time by a 'Golden Goal' in Euro 2000. In 2006, I watched Italy win the World Cup against France. I guess that was the first time I saw a team I was rooting for win a major trophy in any sport. The feeling was surreal. My brother was supporting France, though! The Indian cricket team had yet to win any major trophy in my lifetime.
By the time I started seriously following European football and Barcelona, Messi was an upcoming superstar. My loyalty toward Barcelona naturally translated into strong support for Argentina at the international level.
The 2010 World Cup was the first time I seriously cheered for Argentina. The team was being coached by the legendary Maradona. They had a collection of talented individuals and were expected to perform well. When Argentina was drawn against Germany in the round of 16, the clash was expected to be competitive. What unfolded on 3 July 2010 was pure carnage. Argentina were humbled 4-0 by Germany.
There was a great buildup to the 2022 World Cup. Argentina came to the tournament after winning Copa América and the Finalissima. La Albiceleste were the favorites to win the World Cup. Then came November 22, 2022. Argentina was playing Saudi Arabia. I was at my office, working and watching the match. Argentina was up 1-0, courtesy of a penalty. I went out to have lunch, and I saw, at Pizza Hut, Saudi Arabia score a goal (first or second, I don't remember). Argentina had lost 2-1. It was devastating.
The next game against Mexico was not progressing according to Argentina's wishes. I was tense too. I took out my Argentina jersey—the same one they wore in the final of the 2014 World Cup. A few minutes later, Messi scored! I had found my superstition. After that game, I took a shower before every match, wore the same set of clothes, and sat in a particular position in my chair in my dorm room. I didn't shave or cut my nails throughout the entire tournament. I shaved the night Argentina finally became World Champions.
Argentina won the last group game against Poland quite easily. The round of 16 tie against Australia was going well until about the 70th minute. In the final moments, the game made every Argentina fan a bit edgy. In the end, Argentina set up a quarterfinal clash against the Netherlands.
Argentina had defeated the Netherlands on penalties in the 2014 World Cup semifinal. However, these records hardly mattered. It was supposed to be a tough game. Messi's world-class pass to Molina and his subsequent conversion put Argentina ahead. With a 2-0 lead by the 80th minute, Argentina was cruising in the semifinal until some last-minute heroics from the Dutch forced the game into extra time. Argentina won on penalties again. Croatia was soundly defeated in the semifinal.
The clash for the crown was on 18 December 2022, with Argentina taking on France, the defending champions. France had eliminated Argentina from the 2018 World Cup in the round of 16.
On 18 December 2022, I left my office at 3 PM. The match was to begin at 5 PM Israel Time. I came to my dorm, took a shower, wore the same clothes, and made tea. I refused every offer to watch the game in various public screenings on campus. I was adamant about watching it alone in my room, sitting in a particular position in my chair.
And the game began. Argentina took the lead through Messi's spot kick after Ángel Di María was brought down on the left edge of the box. Nerves had calmed, but Argentina needed at least one more goal to firmly establish control over the game. The second goal was magical. Messi's sublime left-foot flick rolled the ball toward Julian Alvarez, who spotted Alexis Mac Allister running in the French half beyond their defensive lines. Alvarez passed the ball to Mac Allister, who had enough time to look up and spot Di María running unmarked toward the box from the left. He passed it to Di María, and—GOAL!
Argentina was now 2-0 up, and the game seemed to be in their control. Argentina's defensive lines had completely shut out the French attack, and they had zero shots on target. At this point, I received a message from a friend: "So, it's finally happening." And it was happening.
But what came next was unimaginable. It was to turn out to be the greatest World Cup final of all time.
France scored one goal through Mbappé's 80th-minute penalty kick. I became nervous, closed the lid of my laptop, and stepped out onto my balcony to smoke a cigarette. In the quietness of the surroundings, I heard a loud 'YES,' followed by a cheering shout. I suspected it was coming from a lone French supporter somewhere nearby. In a hurry, I stepped into my room, started my laptop, and scattered a handful of cigarette ash on the keyboard. France had scored again, making it 2-2. My heart was pounding. I switched off my phone, put down the laptop's screen, and went to bed. I wasn’t in a position to watch the game any further, and I didn’t want any calls or messages about it. I could hear my heartbeat lying in bed, covered in a quilt in that dark room.
The next time I got up to watch, the regular 90 minutes plus stoppage time was over. I watched the highlight of Messi's 97th-minute on-target shot being pushed above the bar by Lloris.
I did talk to a friend during the break, and he urged me to watch the game. I couldn't. I went to bed again. The next time I had the courage to watch, Mbappé was getting ready to take a penalty. I hurriedly looked at the scoreline: 3-2 in favor of Argentina. Mbappé scored that penalty, and I went back to bed again. Another friend called and urged me to watch the penalty shoot-out. By the time I opened the laptop to watch it, Messi was running in to take the first penalty. He scored, and I sat in my chair to watch the rest. And as it was written in the stars, Argentina won.
I shouted, cried, and talked to friends. My pulse was back to normal. I was relieved.
I made some tea
