In the football game, a golden rule exists, no player is better than a club. However, in a warm Thursday night game in Atlanta, Lionel Messi showed that, perhaps, there are players who are even bigger than the tournament itself.
Inter Miami finally found the winning formula in 2-1 over FC Porto in the Group A match of the FIFA Club World Cup; and that is because Lionel Andrces Messi was the special ingredient that made the whole ordeal magical.
Therefore, with slightly more than 31,000 fans coming to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, one could see who the real attraction was. People did not turn up to watch a match of football but they came to see something, a moment, a memory, and most of all, Messi.
An International Pilgrimage of one man
It was not the football match, it was rather a kind of festival outside stadium. CNN Sports correspondents also interviewed families that came to Arizona to see their idols in a game and all of them showed clear answer to this choice: Messi.
Certainly, you had the hardcore fans who insisted that they were just there to watch football, however, Messi jerseys, banners, cheers, and camera phones showed a different picture. As soon as Messi came out to warm up inside the stadium, the air in the stadium was electrified half an hour prior to the kickoff. The scream would have made anyone believe that the game was already in extratime.
and as soon as the game started, it was every Messi touch that would gasp like a butterfly, cheer and do that now-popular chant, Me-ssi! Me-ssi!”
Out of Ira to Incendium
Inter Miami was backing to the start of the game. Samu Aghehowa of FC Porto scored a penalty kick after only minutes of the match as the crowd was put to silence, only to quickly start cheering again. After the goal, Messi, who is waiting still in the area of the center circle, does not even move within ten seconds. It was not anger, it was thought. By way of re-computing how to re-write the script.
Then, as is Messi fashion, he did.
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After only two minutes of the second half, Telasco Segovia equalized the score of Inter Miami. However the night can be mark in the 54 th minute a signature Messi free kick.
With his body put in place at the edge of the box, the Argentine master inhaled, glanced at the wall and bent in an absolutely fantastic shot into the top corner. Closeness on the goal of Claudio Ramos was in vain. The audience was out of control. Chills. Cheers. Tears, even.
Inter Miami goal No 50. One more entry to an already epic resume.
Greater Than a Goal–A Moment in History
This goal by Messi did not only bring the win. It was the first win of a CONCACAF club over a European team in a competitive FIFA event. The scene engraved in football history- and once more it involved Messi.
As he said on the DAZN broadcast in the Portuguese commentary: Touched by God, is he not? Incredible. What a game player.”
In a Club World Cup that is still blinking its toes and trying to get its bearings, Messi provided it with the kind of moment that it so much needed.
FIFA Raises a Two Billion Dollar Bet on a Global Superstar
In confirmation, Gianni Infantino, who was earlier elected as the president of FIFA, once said to a CNN reporter that the upgraded for the Club World Cup of 32-teams would resemble 63 super bowls within one month. However, on Thursday, it was liken more to the Messi Super Bowl, and it was justifiable.
Remarkably, Inter Miami did not even qualify to even win the MLS Cup. They squeaked in on the Supporters Shield as the award goes to the team that had the best regular season. However, when Messi was on their payroll, FIFA had obviously spotted an opportunity there and rushed the pink-clad Floridians through into the tournament.
It is already yielding that decision. More than 60,000 spectators attended the opener of the tournament at Hard rock stadium in Miami. Back in Atlanta it was Messi left foot that would deliver the Club World Cup their first legitimate headline maker.
Messi no longer wields the authority based on football, he wields it based on cultural appeal. In Barcelona, Paris, the city of Buenos Aires or Miami the story is the same; wherever Messi is, the world is there.
Messi Effect
To the teammates of Messi, he influences more than goals and assists. Winger Fafa Picault summed him up in three words as: “Leader, a winner and a winner once again.” He further added, sometimes it is not always verbal but just with gestures and motions. We attempt to read that off of.”
Messi is a leader who is not talkative. He does not impose his way of inspiration. And on Thursday, he served a welcome reminder of the reason he is still the brightest star in football world, even at the ripe young age of 37, about to celebrate his 38 th birthday with firecrackers burning.
One match to the knockout.
Inter Miami has now found themselves in a good position with the win. A tie against Palmeiras on Monday will see them qualify to the knockout stage. However much Miami may go, this much is obvious:
Lionel Messi does not figure in the story, he is the story itself.
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The club world cup might turn out to be the big new experiment by FIFA. At night like this, it is more like the Messi World Tour.
Not a complaint being made.