|
Some 300 kilometers (186 miles) north of Buenos Aires, on the
western bank of the mighty Paraná River, the farm hub city is
where Messi grew up and first kicked a ball. His image is
everywhere, adorning the sides of buildings.
In the nearby town of Serodino, a huge 12 by 18 meter (40 by 60
ft) Messi No. 10 jersey flutters in the air above the streets,
put up in tribute to Argentina, who will play France in a
showpiece final on Sunday in Qatar.
"It gives me goosebumps," said Juan Pío Drovetta, mayor of
Serodino, adding that "La Scaloneta" - as the team are called in
a nod to the coach, Lionel Scaloni - were fighting hard for
victory.
"Behind this there is work, there is heart, there are fists,
there is blood," he said.
Sunday's match will be the second World Cup final for
35-year-old Messi, who will be seeking revenge after losing 1-0
to Germany in the 2014 final in Brazil.
"We're going to win, that's how it is. Because of how up for it
these guys are, because of the way they treat each other," said
Juan Ibáñez Moroni, father of Pedro Ibáñez, 8, who plays in the
youth team at Newell's Old Boys, Messi's old club.
"Apart from doing it for Argentina, they are going to do it for
him (Messi) too. He needs it and will end up setting all the
records," he predicted.
In Rosario, there's almost a Messi madness. "From another galaxy
and from my neighborhood," reads one huge one mural, painted
near the house where Messi was born.
"He was a super fun and unaffected child, his life was more than
anything spent with a football, playing with all the boys," said
Alejandra Ferreyra, showing photos of her mother and daughter
with a teenage Messi.
"The truth is that he deserves the best in life, because he is a
beautiful little person, he is a born leader and he is going to
make us all happy. We are already champions."
(Reporting by Miguel Lo Bianco and Claudia Martini; Writing by
Maximilian Heath; Editing by Nicolás Misculin and Rosalba
O'Brien)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
