It is possible that Argentina will exit the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday. The decisive Group D match against Nigeria takes place at the Saint Petersburg Stadium and could mark the end of a significant era in the history of the Argentine national team. Lionel Messi turned 31 this week, but the situation for his team in Russia has left little reason to celebrate. A laboured draw with Iceland was followed by a comprehensive defeat to Croatia, and the importance of the match against Nigeria serves only to emphasise the failings of Jorge Sampaoli’s side.
End of an era
This will be Messi’s last World Cup. Now 31, he no longer needs the demand of international football. It is a demand multiplied by the cultural expectancy of Argentina. Both Sampaoli and Messi are displaying the traits of individuals saddled with unwanted pressure, and both will depart from their international roles at the end of the tournament.
And there is a very real chance that the tournament could end for Argentina on Tuesday. The quality of the opposition is not the most important factor, as the toughest opponent for Argentina at this time is themselves. To win, they must change the attitude and culture within the squad, and only then will they have the chance to progress.
Shadow of the past
But that was a different time, and the Argentina team that Messi leads in Russia is a shadow of their former selves. There is no belief, and the only expectancy within the squad is of impending disappointment. Chastised from all angles as pundits and former players leave nothing behind in their criticism, this is a team that the players cannot wait to escape from.
Maradona comparison
Messi’s contribution to the game means that he deserves to lift the World Cup with Argentina in the same way that Diego Maradona did before him. The similarities between the two, and their respective influence on Argentina, are well documented. However, Messi will never be revered in the same way as Maradona, even if he emulates his achievement of 1986.
It is a fact that Messi is well-aware of. Maradona was the first Argentine genius, a figure that the nation could relate to, who defied the odds to succeed. Messi followed a different path, but while his own genius is unique, the comparisons with Maradona will prevent him from ever holding a higher status than the player who inevitably influenced his own game.