The interview originally recorded in 2000 by a Buenos Aires edition of an Argentine daily captures a young Lionel Messi at just 13 years old. The conversation reveals early hints of a trajectory that would later redefine the world of football, with a child prodigy looking beyond the field and into lifelong ambitions.
When asked about future plans, the young talent talked about a possible career in physical education, hinting at a future where sports and teaching could intersect. His dreams were clear: he imagined Messi someday wearing the uniform of Newell’s Old Boys in Argentinas top flight and earning a place with the national team. Those early reflections would one day become a cornerstone of a global sporting narrative, as observers traced the arc from street playgrounds to stadiums worldwide.
In contemporary World Cup coverage, Messi has taken the field six times in a single tournament run, delivering five goals and three assists across those appearances. His scoring pace, particularly from penalties, highlighted his relentless drive to convert chances in high-stakes matches and to influence outcomes for his team on football’s biggest stage.
On December 13, the Argentine squad edged through to a 1-1 result that kept them alive in the knockout rounds, defeating the Croatian national team in a semifinal chase that narrowed the field to two finalists. Across the bracket, the French side advanced with a performance that proved their strength, aligning with a campaign that positioned them as formidable rivals in the closing stages of the tournament against teams like Morocco, who had also carved out remarkable runs.
As the tournament progressed, anticipation built for the World Cup final scheduled to be contested on December 18 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. The match was set to start at 18:00 Moscow time, marking a moment in which two footballing nations would collide for the ultimate prize in the sport, with strategy, talent, and national pride all coalescing on one global stage.
Fabio Capello, the former head coach of the Russian national team, weighed in on the potential clash, noting the high-profile duel between Messi and Mbappe as a defining feature of the final. The assessment underscored Messi
asya Mbappe
sa potential narrative of the match, with both players shaping the tone of the game and influencing how the final would unfold for audiences around the world.