final between Argentina and France Sunday is not the only “last game” Lionel Messi in the World Cup, It is also the final point for a golden generation of South American footballers.
The 35-year-old ‘La Pulga’ has said that the game at Lusail Stadium (15:00 GMT) “Definitely” Will Mark Your Goodbye The highest football competition in which it premiered in 2006.
“There are many years until the next (tournament) and I don’t think I’ll give it to me. It’s the best to end like this,” he said after beating Croatia (3-0) on Tuesday. The last.
With or without the trophy in Albiceleste’s hands, South America will be waiting for the ’10’ The last visible face of an illustrious litter of footballers The South American is already in the epilogue of his career.
Read also:
“Messi has been the best player in the world for a long time. It makes you think that once Messi is gone…” former Argentina striker Mario Kempes, Argentina’s champion in 1978, told AFP.
they make their way behind the stars Julian Alvarez (22) and Enzo Fernandez (21), Big surprise for Albiceleste in the first World Cup played in an Arab nation.
The Last Shot of ‘Gunslinger’
A best friend of ‘Leo’ raised the World Cup blinds in Qatar: Luis Suárez, Uruguay’s historic goalscorer And part of the fearsome South American trident that shone at Barcelona (Messi-Suarez-Neymar).
He said, “This will be the fourth World Cup, the last of my age. “El Pistolero” before the start of ‘Celeste’.
Your attacking partner for over a decadeEdinson Cavani, also 35, and captain Diego Godin, 36, They must leave spaces which must be supplied by fresh blood of Darwin Nuñez and Ronald Araujo, both 23 years old.
“I’m going to think about whether I should keep playing or not. It’s not because of injuries, but because of a personal matter,” said ‘El Faraon’ after his elimination in the group stage.
tears of end of valencia After Ecuador’s first-round exit, they may be the last thing remembered about the scorers in a world Cup.
At 33, the historic striker for Ecuador at the World Cup (6 goals) finds it difficult to age well enough for the 2026 tournament. United States, Canada and Mexico.
Goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez, 35 and a two-time World Cup winner (2014, 2022), could face the same fate, with Piero Hincapie (21), Pervis Estupinan (24) or Gonzalo Plata (22) among a handful of leadership enthusiasts. Except the tricolor orphan. ,
neymar’s secret
Another “brother” of the Argentine star Brazil Neymar, only 30 years old, Threatens to walk away from ‘Seleção’ prematurely.
The failure in Qatar – where he arrived as one of the title favourites, but lost in the quarter-finals to Croatia – left him questioning his continuity with the five-time champions.
“I don’t give 100% guarantee that I will come back, I need to analyze, think a little more about what is good for me and for the national team,” he said after the defeat on penalties.
You may be interested in:
‘Canarinha’ says goodbye to rescue Thiago Silva (38) and Dani Alves (39), Expect new talent – Vinicius Jr, Rodrigo, Antony, Richardson – to win a new world title for the first time since 2002.
But not only the South American teams participating in Qatar think about the farewell of people who have become icons.
Peru is concerned about the lack of spare parts Paul Guerrero (38) and company, the architects of taking them to a World Cup, the one in Russia, the first in 36 years, and who lost the play-off to Qatar with Australia.
Two-time Copa America champions Chile (2015 and 2016), who have been absent from the top-tier event since Brazil-2014, also see no horizon when Claudio Bravo (39), Arturo Vidal (35) and Alexis Sánchez (33) departed from La Rosa.
Colombia, present at the 2014 and 2018 tournaments, are looking for a natural replacement for their historic scorer.Rico, Radamel Falcao Garcia (36) after being out of the Qatari competition while spinning Seven straight games without scoring.
