As a Barcelona fan, I have always loved Leo Messi. I cried when he lost in the World Cup final in 2014 and again when he was forced to leave FC Barcelona. Watching him cry both times just broke my heart. It's weird, isn't it, that someone you don't know can touch you so.
This last Sunday the only tears shed were tears of pure joy as I 'watched' Leo and the Argentine National Team win the World Cup in a thrilling game against France.
Argentina started off so strong, totally dominating the French team in every way. It was 2 - 0 Argentina and I was mentally celebrating, thinking of preparing an Argentine meal for Sunday dinner and celebrating with John, Monica and Isabella. Then boom, just like that in the 80th and 81st minute the amazing Mbappe scored two goals. As the announcers said, ''Game on". I truly felt nauseous. Reminded me of when one of our boys played for the State Championship! Just sick with nerves!
As the regulation time ended George and I went to church. True confession, we followed the play by play on our phones during sacrament meeting. Extra time in soccer goes for 30 additional minutes past the normal 90 - two 15 minute periods. At minute 108 Messi scored and I was thrilled thinking that it was just perfect that his extra time goal would win the World Cup. Unfortunately Mbappe had different ideas and scored again at the 118th minute. Tied again and it ended tied. Shootout here we come. I was a wreck.
Here's Monica 'watching' the game from the tranquility of her closet! Actually she is listening to music!!! Had I not been at church I might have done the same thing. It was a rollercoaster with alternating waves of joy and agony!
For some weird reason my Goal.com app stuck when the shots from the mark were happening. I knew that it was 3-1 Argentina but then it wouldn't refresh. Finally a notification came through on George's phone that Argentina had won the World Cup! Big relief!!! And happy day!
The official score looks like this Argentina 3(4) - France 3(2). So at the end of the game it was 3-3 and then Argentina hit 4 shots in the shootout and France hit only 2. The goalie from Argentina saved one, France missed one but Argentina hit all of theirs.
The moment that the last goal went in. and the team knew that they had won! The sweet taste of victory! Messi is #10.
Messi could now add a World Cup trophy to his impressive haul of titles and awards!
Does this settle the debate of who is the GOAT? Greatest of All Time. Probably not but in my mind there is no question that the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo is settled. Messi is the genius of football. Don't know how you can compare him to other players from a long time ago, like Pele, but for me there is no one like Leo. Mbappe will stake his claim to the GOAT title and might someday claim it. But for today, let's celebrate Messi and the Argentine National Team.
Just look at his adorable family savoring the moment!
And take a peak at the crowds in Buenos Aires celebrating! They called it a sea of supporters. In fact, the bus taking the players to the city center couldn't make it because of safety concerns so they put the team in helicopters and flew them over the city. Monica heard that there were 10 million people along the route. I heard 4 million but either way, that is a LOT of excited people. Very difficult to control!
I especially liked this photo that Monica shared with me. That's the LDS Temple in the background where John and Monica were married.
Sunday night we did celebrate with a chicken Milanese and French fries (very typical Argentine meal) and we toasted the World Cup Champions with sparkling cider!
What a day to be a Messi and Argentina fan!
I don't know why it matters to me but it does and I am so happy!
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