Lionel Messi, the Argentine magician, is often seen as a magical figure on the pitch. His composure, his dribbling skill, and his steely determination have earned him the nickname ‘La Pulga’. But underneath the ice veins and a passionate heart, fans have witnessed that passion manifest in tears as well.
Here are the 5 moments where the fans witnessed Lionel Messi cry on the soccer field:
1. Achieving the World Cup glory
For decades, the FIFA World Cup had been a thorn in Argentina’s side. The ‘Maradona curse’ loomed large, a constant reminder of past failures and dashed hopes. Lionel Messi, burdened with the expectations of an entire nation, bore the weight of this collective heartache on his shoulders.
Having failed in the 2014 final, many thought it was over for Messi to win it across his career. But as soon as Montiel scored the winning penalty for Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup the whole team rushed towards their captain and hugged him as he was caught crying after finally winning the contest.
2. Winning his first-ever international trophy with Argentina
After years of heartbreak in major tournaments, Argentina finally lifted the Copa América trophy in 2021. This victory, on Brazilian soil no less, was a deeply emotional moment for Messi. He had been heavily criticized for his lack of international success, and the weight of that burden was finally lifted.
Tears of joy and relief streamed down his face as he embraced his teammates, signifying the relief of a long and arduous journey. Having faced a defeat in his previous two finals at the Copa América, Messi even took his retirement from the national team, thinking international trophies weren’t for him. But coming back from retirement, he finally gave Argentine fans what they had been wanting for a long time.
3. The missed penalty in the 2016 Copa América final
Penalties are a cruel mistress, and Messi has felt their sting more than once. In the 2016 Copa América final against Chile, he missed a crucial penalty in the shootout, sending Argentina to defeat. The disappointment was shocking; his head bowed in despair as his teammates consoled him.
Having faced a defeat to Chile only in the final of the 2015 Copa America as well, such back-to-back defeats in just under a year sent Messi into a shocking mood. It was a moment of vulnerability, a rare glimpse of the pain that even the most decorated players can endure.
4. Losing the 2014 World Cup despite winning the Golden Ball
2014 proved to be a cruel year for Lionel Messi. With the world on his feet, he was terrorizing defenders week in and week out. Messi once again failed to win any major trophy during the 2013-14 campaign. He came in 2nd in La Liga, lost the Copa del Rey final to their arch-rivals Real Madrid, and suffered a defeat across the UEFA Champions League in the Quarter Finals.
But the serious pain came when he went to the FIFA World Cup after the club season had ended. During the World Cup, Messi was a key player in Argentina’s progression to the final against Germany. But as Argentina suffered a massive defeat to the Germans, Messi fell into tears, even though he was consolidated with the Golden Ball for the World Cup.
5. Messi’s farewell speech to FC Barcelona
Whenever somebody thinks of FC Barcelona, the first name that usually comes to mind is Lionel Messi. After giving 17 years of his career to FC Barcelona, Messi was the heart of the team. Most of the honors between Barcelona and Messi coincided with each other, showcasing how vital both were to each other to attain such success.
In 2021, after being forced to finally leave the club where his career started, Messi broke into tears while giving his farewell speech to the media. But not being able to settle on a deal, both Messi and Barcelona had no other option than to part ways with each other.
Being part of such an illustrious career, Lionel Messi hasn’t been the guy to showcase his emotions in front of the fans, but even he couldn’t hold back his tears during the best and worst moments of his career. In the tears of Messi, the fans see not just the pain of defeat and the joy of victory, but the story of a man who has poured his heart and soul into the game he loves.