'You don't need a World Cup, Lionel Messi', an ardent fan pens down a tribute on the Argentina skipper's birthday

Almost every year, when June 24 arrives, he is in some corner of the globe, away from the world (paparazzi), and has a close-family birthday. 

Only social media posts, if any, from him or his wife disclose a few scenes from the same day. 

That's his nature. He is quiet. He is an introvert. He might be Spain's superstar and one of the greatest footballers to have graced the sport, but Lionel Messi never forgets his roots, which are from Argentina. 

None other than his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, is the testimony to that. She was one of Messi's closest friends' cousin and which is why Messi and Antonella met often during their childhood. Messi moved to Spain as a child to become one of the best footballers in the world but he always knew there was a girl, back in his hometown of Rosario, who made him relaxed and happy. 

They have known each other for over 26 years, have been a couple for almost 10 years (or maybe, even more), married for almost a year, have three sons and their Boxer dog, Dogue de Bordeaux, who is conveniently named Hulk, completing their adorable family picture. 

(Lionel Messi insta)

There are three things that will always keep Messi associated with his origin- football, Antonella and his grandmother, who he credits for bringing football into his life. Almost every time Messi scores, he points to the sky, usually on his way back to his own half to prepare for the game to restart and score again. It turns out that, the celebration is in the honour of his grandmother, who passed away, even before Messi made it big with his Spanish club FC Barcelona. 

A lot of people do not like to bring work back home after the working hours. But, there is a difference between common people and Messi. They say, he eats, drinks and breathes football, it turns out that he literally lives in it. 

Along with the help of architect Luis Garrido, Messi has designed a football house, built on a plot shaped like a football pitch, called the One- Zero Eco House in which he currently resides.

Messi lives in Barcelona, he can fluently speak Spanish, his children are well settled in the country and his wife has started her own shoe brand, based out of Barcelona. With the jam-packed schedule with Barcelona, Messi hardly gets time to visit Argentina. It must be a task for him to fly down there if no international matches scheduled to be played at home. 

After impressing Catalan's youth teams followed by ruling in the senior team as well, Spain offered Messi to represent them in international football. Taking practical logic into consideration, a yes to La Roja would have made Messi's life easy in so many ways. But, he was Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini - born in Central Argentina - who was not going to give up his Argentina connection for whatsoever. 

"I was asked informally if I wanted to play for Spain, but I always said that I wanted to play for my national team because I love Argentina and these are the only colours I want to wear.I was always an avid fan of the national team. I watched the games on television because I could never go to the grounds and watch them as a fan," the 31-year-old once said. 

At a very young age, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency and the treatement demanded a heavy amount of money. Messi moved to Spain to join FC Barcelona’s academy, he was 13. He made the huge decision only because FC Barcelona agreed to pay for his treatment.

(Twitter)

Eighteen years have passed since then and Argentina's football enthusiasts still pass impudent comments like, Messi has never been patriotic and loyal to his Argentine colours. They say hurtful things like Messi never sings Argentina's national anthem, he is not enthusiastic about playing for his own country and is not committed to his white and blue jersey. 

But the same people forget, if Messi was not patriotic enough, he would have switched to Spanish football team well before. These guys only remember Argentina losing three finals in a span of four years and Messi featuring in the games. 

They compare Messi's Argentina failure to his success with FC Barcelona. Football is a team game and until the Argentine side compliments Messi everywhere in the field, Argentina cannot lift the World Cup trophy, which they last won 32 years back. 

More than anyone else in the team right now, Messi wants the coveted trophy, mostly because, this might be his last shot at winning the World Cup. In the previous edition, he came this close to taking that trophy home but eventually, all he received was the Golden Ball for being the best player in the tournament and a runners-up medal.

So far, after two matches in FIFA World Cup 2018, Argentina has not been even close to supporting Messi anywhere in the field. The Argentine skipper is usually under overwhelming pressure during his national matches. The pressure gets doubled when he is left alone to do the job. He is a human, after all, he can fail too. 

Against Iceland in Argentina's opening match, Messi was literally marked by over four or five players and there was no way Messi could play his game freely. 

Iceland's over defensive play certainly pushed Messi under immense pressure and that would have been one of the major reasons behind missing the penalty. 

Thankfully, Argentina managed a draw and had two more games in hand to qualify for the last 16. 

Alas, the next match against Croatia turned into a World Cup nightmare. The coach lost his plot, the team had no direction, and the players probably displayed one of the worst performances in football as they made the best footballer a mere spectator, a frustrated one to be precise, on the field. 

Watch how the 9-men made Messi a wandering spectator:

So apparently Messi is expected to win the World Cup with these bums? Someone hold me lmaooooopic.twitter.com/QWI7BxOGk7

— Will (@MessiMastrcIass) June 22, 2018

Messi, who turns 31 today, has lived his whole adult life working towards winning a major trophy for Argentina. Is it fair to crush his dreams in this manner and at the same time blame him for the same? 

This birthday is either going to make or break Messi's long-awaited dream. When Barcelona's No. 10 takes the field against Nigeria two days later, all eyes will be on him. There will be several thoughts going in his mind. Of course, the thoughts will also include the bitter truth of his end in the Argentine colours.

In one of the interviews prior to the World Cup 2018, when asked about his future, Messi said it'll all depend on Argentina's performance this tournament.  In another interview, Messi called this World Cup his “last chance,” explaining how this will be the end of his generation’s time with the national team regardless of what happens in the World Cup. 

Although, he has not stated about his retirement openly, clearly 'the end' is all over in his thoughts. 

Plus, Messi is considered as the GOAT - Greatest of All Time – so by that logic, he is supposed to win. But, there were always doubts about Argentina's longevity in this World Cup. It's a known fact that apart from Messi, the rest of the team is incomplete. Their midfield and defence lack the elite talent and the emotional pressure that players like Messi, Angel di Maria and Aguero carry is way too much for them to handle.

The recent results of Argentina have been devastating for its core players, especially for Messi. Everyone is well aware of the distressed history between Messi and his country and how the best footballer is always looking for acceptance from his own country, he loves so much, yet which assess him with dubious eyes.

(AFP)

The frustration, the sadness, the anger, the stress. The joy, the excitement, the hope, the pride. Messi has felt it all, whenever he has donned the white and blue jersey. The negative emotions have always been more than the positive ones but regardless, Messi has always extracted motivation to drive his country forward, on his tiny shoulders. How is it to be Messi, now, with the end just around the corner? 

We know he would do anything in the world to win the trophy and he knows he might have failed again; wonder what he is going through right now? I wonder what he'll go through when he'll take the Saint Petersburg Stadium's field on Tuesday, when Argentina lock horns against Nigeria, knowing only a win will take them forward in the World Cup. 

Whatever happens on Tuesday. 

Whatever the result is at the end of the match between Argentina and Nigeria. 

Lionel Messi, you will always be my hero. 

Happy birthday, Leo!