Messi will return to Lusail Stadium on Sunday (18/12/2022) for the final match. He started and will end his journey at Lusail. The final match will be Messi's "last dance" in the World Cup.
By
M YUNIADHI AGUNG AND M IKHSAN MAHAR from Doha, Qatar
·4 minutes read
AFP/JUAN MABROMATA
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi and Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni celebrate near Argentina's midfielder #11 Angel Di Maria after defeating Croatia 3-0 in the Qatar 2022 World Cup football semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 13, 2022.
LUSAIL, KOMPAS — Lusail Stadium became a friendly and magical place for Lionel Messi during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. At the biggest stadium in Qatar, Messi confirmed his big role for Argentina and has brought “La Albiceleste” to the final match to chase the world champion title for the third time.
Messi scored a goal from the penalty spot and an assist which confirmed Argentina's superiority over Croatia with 3-0 in the semifinal match on Wednesday (14/12/2022). Argentina qualifies for the final for the sixth time, including the second time for “La Pulga” aka “The Flea,” Messi's nickname.
Four of Argentina's six games in Qatar have taken place at Lusail Stadium and Messi's performance is reviving the region's late 19th-century roots. Lusail is taken from the name of a plant native to the region, namely al-wassail.
This flowering bush-like plant is no longer found in Lusail today, which is about 25 kilometers from Doha. Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed al-Thani, the founding father of modern Qatar, fell in love with the plant and built a palace for his residence there until his death.
Two centuries later, the al-wassail is embodied in Messi. Even though he is not from Qatar, Messi's performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup is the embodiment of the beauty of al-wassail, which is small but admired by people. Four of Messi's five goals, as well as the three assists he made, were in matches played at Lusail Stadium.
I am happy to witness Messi bring Argentina to the World Cup final. If Argentina wins, maybe I will get a tattoo of Messi.
The 88,966 spectators who packed the semifinal match at the Lusail Stadium applauded when Messi celebrated a goal and provided an assist for Julian Alvarez. Argentina supporters never stopped singing songs for Messi, while Croatian fans applauded the magical performance of The Flea.
“I am happy to witness Messi bring Argentina to the World Cup final. If Argentina wins, maybe I will get a tattoo of Messi,” said Fabio, a resident of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who came to Qatar to watch the semifinal and final matches.
AFP/LUIS ROBAYO
A fan of Argentina kisses a replica of the World Cup trophy as he celebrates his team's victory after the Qatar 2022 World Cup semifinal football match between Croatia and Argentina at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires on December 13, 2022.
Fabio's eyes filled with tears after the referee Daniele Orsato blew the final whistle. During the match, Fabio sang, shouted and clapped his hands gleefully from his seat.
”Quiero ganar la tercera, quiero ser campeon mundial. Y al Diego en el cielo los podemos ver. Con don Diego y con la Tota, alentandolo a Lionel (I want to win the third, I want to be world champion. And Diego [Maradona] we can see him in heaven. Together with Don Diego and La Tota, supporting Lionel [Messi],” goes the song sung by Fabio and thousands of Argentine fans.
The song is titled ”Mucha-chos, Ahora Nos Volvimos a Illusionar,” which the Argentinian band, La Mosca Tse-Tse, released in 2021. They composed this song specially to support the La Albiceleste squad in the 2022 World Cup.
Happy
Messi was no less happy after the game ended. Even though he bent down due to fatigue, Messi immediately hugged his teammates Rodrigo de Paul, Lautaro Martinez, Franco Armani and Paulo Dybala who took turns approaching him.
The number 10 player jumped up and down, celebrating the victory with thousands of Argentinian supporters in the north stand of the stadium. After that, Messi hugged the Argentine officials, including coach Lionel Scaloni. Messi's hug with Scaloni was the longest, lasting around 90 seconds.
Messi said he was happy to help the team with the goals and assists he had created. Argentina's success in reaching the final was the result of the collective work of all the players who worked extra hard in every match.
“After the defeat in the first match, we consider all matches as finals. Of course it was very tiring mentally, but we are happy to have won those five finals. We hope to win the remaining final," Messi said in a post-match press conference.
"Coaching Leo [Messi] is an honor for me," said Scaloni, who appreciated Messi's big role for Argentina.
Messi will return to Lusail Stadium on Sunday (18/12/2022) for the final match. He started and will end his journey at Lusail. The final match will be Messi's "last dance" in the World Cup. Messi certainly wants to leave Qatar with a smile and with the World Cup trophy in his hands.
