Lionel Messi smiled as the fireworks exploded and around 80,000 people roared. His Argentina soccer shirt, covered by Qatar’s Amir Bisht, had just wrapped him – a cloak reserved for top officials and sheikhs. He smiled, he paused, then he hoisted the World Cup high, a lifetime’s dream come true.
For all the accolades, all the awards, wealth, titles and silverware, there was one stain on his career resume, and it was that stain that he erased forever on a magical World Cup night for Argentina.
“It’s anybody’s childhood dream,” Messi said.
“It’s crazy… Look how she (the World Cup), she’s so beautiful. I wanted her so much. I had a vision that this would be it… She was getting closer.”