Buenos Aires: Lionel Messi dazzled at the match against Bolivia in the FIFA 2022 World Cup Qualifiers, the Argentine captain scored a hat-trick and awed the Albiceleste fans who attended a match for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak in River Plate’s home stadium, El Monumental.
Argentina won the Copa America 2021 in Brazil around two months ago but they were not able to share the victory with the supporters until the match against Bolivia.
The triumph of the Copa America 2021 was already significant since it ended Argentina’s 28-year trophy drought. Messi overtook Brazilian legend Pele’s record of 77 goals to become CONMEBOL’s all-time best goal scorer for men yesterday, making the celebration even more meaningful.
Messi was overwhelmed when he finally got the lone piece of glory lacking from his trophy-laden senior career. He even posted on social media saying, “I dreamed a lot about this day, and thank God it came. I have no words to thank you for all the love received. What a beautiful night, I really enjoyed it. Unforgettable.”
“There was no better way to celebrate this than to be here. My mother, my brothers are in the stands… They suffered a lot and today, they are here celebrating. I’m very happy,” said a teary-eyed Leo Messi who was targeted many times by the Argentine media for his failure to win a major trophy for his country.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner acknowledged that Copa America was the “most difficult” title to win. He had won practically every major award at the club and individual levels. Following heartbreaks with his country in the 2014 World Cup Final and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America Finals.
“I really wanted to be able to enjoy it,” Messi said after the match. “I waited a long time for this, I looked for it and I dreamed of it. It’s a unique moment for the way it happened after so much waiting,” he added.
