MARCA America Award Leo Messi: The most desired World Cup

Messi’s spectacular career hasn’t been easy, because it isn’t for a superstar like the Rosario native or any other professional footballer. Reaching the top is hard, but staying there year after year is even harder. However, if there’s something that was particularly challenging for Leo, it was achieving glory with the Argentina jersey. And he did it, of course he did.

On December 18, 2002, we witnessed one of the best World Cup finals of all time. Argentina and the Netherlands, the Netherlands of all time, starred in a duel that still lingers in the memory of football lovers. 2-2 at the end of the first ninety minutes, 3-3 at the end of extra time, and 4-2 for Argentina after the penalty shootout. Finally, Leo Messi was crowned world champion with the Albiceleste, the only major title missing from his endless list of achievements. Needless to say, Messi was decisive in that final, scoring two goals plus another in the penalty shootout. World Cup MVP and the finishing touch to a championship for the ages, in which he broke the record for the player with the most appearances in a World Cup with 26, after participating in five editions.