Dubai: UAE-based Argentinians are confident that Lionel Messi will pull on the blue and white stripes again, despite sensationally quitting the national team after missing the penalty that handed Chile victory in Sunday’s Copa America final.
Rashid Garcia, an Abu Dhabi-based Argentinian journalist, said he believed Messi’s reaction was politically motivated.
“It’s not just about football, it has complicated political connotations as well,” said Garcia. “Fifa intervened to investigate corruption within the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) and set a date for new elections on June 30.
“However, the Argentine government said Fifa’s intervention was illegal and Fifa are now threatening sanctions or a ban because of political interference.
“In protest at the AFA’s handling of affairs I’ve heard at least seven players are leaving. It’s not just sport it’s much deeper.
“Not only is he our best player but he’s also key to our brand, and it’s much harder for the AFA to defend themselves against Fifa without him, he knows this, he’s a very smart guy. I’m sure he would have resigned even if they had won. He had already said he had an important announcement to make after the game.
“This reaction is going to create a quake with unpredictable consequences for Argentina, but surely after the storm calms order will resume and he’ll be back.”
Jorge Ferrari, a Dubai-based photographer, doubted Messi’s decision was politically motivated, but agreed the Atomic Flea would return.
“I don’t think it’s in his nature to be that cynical,” said Ferrari. “He just needs some time out and I think the break will do both him and Argentina good, once they both realise what they are missing.
“We went through the same with Diego Maradona after the 1990 World Cup and that was political as much as it was about his problems, but he came back. It’s a shame if this is forever, but I’ve got a feeling it won’t be.”
Messi has now reached and lost four major finals with Argentina, including the 2007 and 2015 Copa America, and the 2014 World Cup, leaving him with no major international honours, despite a glowing club career at Barcelona where he has won a record five Fifa Ballon D’Ors, eight La Liga, and four Uefa Champions League titles.
