Messi’ah of Millions: Indian fans wait for Lionel Messi’s ‘2011 Sachin Tendulkar moment

When Lionel Messi, his eyes glistening with emotion, gazes into the void, it’s as if the entire world comes to a standstill. When he becomes agitated and engages in heated debates with a referee, you can’t help but share his frustration. And when you witness him weaving circles around the world’s best athletes, as he did against defender Josko Gvardiol on that Tuesday night in Doha, it’s as though the world transforms into a better place. You find yourself leaping for joy, perhaps even waking your loved ones from their deep slumber to share the excitement. Winning every trophy in the world is remarkable, but the FIFA World Cup holds a special place. Pele caressed it thrice, and Maradona too had the opportunity to hold the ‘Golden Globe’ in his hands.

Now, in his fifth and final World Cup appearance, Messi desires the same, just as cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar desperately wanted to lift the Blue Riband trophy in his sixth and final global outing. Can Sunday bring that iconic Tendulkar moment for Messi and Argentina? Tendulkar lived his dream, and there are millions who fervently hope that Messi will experience the same.

“I have witnessed a deity walking on earth. Now, all I yearn for is to witness Messi hoisting the World Cup. If I never watch another sporting event in my life, I would have no regrets. But, man, Messi has to win it. Just imagine what an unforgettable moment it would be one last time for the Albicelestes,” shared Deepto Roy, a lawyer from Mumbai, who is in Doha to witness the semi-finals and the final, with PTI.

“As an Indian who witnessed that cricket World Cup final in Mumbai, Messi evokes that same feeling as Sachin Tendulkar. It feels like the entire world is rooting for Messi to raise the World Cup. We often hear about fairy tales, and I want to live this fairy tale on Sunday night,” added Deepto.

For Indian fans, Argentina and Diego Maradona became a permanent part of their lives in 1986 when Doordarshan began broadcasting FIFA World Cup matches from the second round. Even in those pre-internet days when social media was still a distant concept, Maradona’s skills brought together football enthusiasts from Bengal, Kerala, and Goa—three football-crazy states in India.

“Messi belongs to Barcelona as much as he does to Argentina. But there’s a unique social context linked to the fervent Argentina fanbase, particularly in Kolkata and Kochi. Bengalis and Malayalis are lovers of art, and in Maradona, they discovered an artist they had never seen before. There’s a generation that only watches football every four years, but Maradona made them fall in love with the Argentina football team and Messi. So, Messi and Argentina became a sentimental connection for many, even those who aren’t closely following Messi’s current stint with PSG. But, as an Indian, the 2011 World Cup felt like everything was about SRT, and you get that same feeling for Messi,” noted Dwaipayan Chatterjee, a devoted club football enthusiast.

Julian Alvarez may not receive as much attention as a hero in Argentina’s semi-final triumph, but his 40-meter run down the middle will be remembered. However, it’s his second goal that won’t be the subject of conversation. He scored another goal, the third one, which will be discussed not because of him.

For Julian Alvarez, it’s a bittersweet reality that, for once, the creator of the goal will garner more attention than the scorer. At just 20 years old, defender Josko Gvardiol is expected to dominate the football world for at least a decade as one of the finest defenders, capable of playing both as a stopper and as a lateral back (side back). Sporting a black mask to protect his fractured nose (which he had worn throughout the World Cup), Gvardiol, at times, bore a striking resemblance to ‘Captain America’ when confronted with Messi’s ‘spider-man’ like skills.

For the majority of that sprint, Gvardiol didn’t make any mistakes and executed his role perfectly. He stayed with Messi, denying him the space to maneuver as the maestro began his run down the wide right (Gvardiol’s left). Messi reached the edge of the penalty box, and that’s when the ‘Messi Magic’ unfolded—an embodiment of joy and ecstasy.

For Dipanjan Ghosh, a software professional based in Melbourne, being at the stadium was an incredibly surreal experience. “Messi’s performance was akin to what Argentina and ‘my team’ would achieve in a tournament for me. I live in a country known for its fine wines, and Messi is that fine wine, aging perfectly with time,” expressed Ghosh.

“I will continue to support Argentina even after Messi retires, but when my eight-year-old grows up and I grow older, I’ll tell him, ‘Buddy, you may become richer and smarter than me, but you can’t be luckier. Do you know why? Because I watched Lionel Messi live and in action.'”