On a night like Tuesday, it was tough not to have the mind wander back to a similar midweek evening almost 13 years ago. Then, in front of a Monumental barely half-full, an Argentina team still staggering after its latest failure in a major tournament and reeling from an historic defeat at the hands of Venezuela was held 1-1 by Bolivia, even briefly trailing after a hideous defensive mistake before Ezequiel Lavezzi spared the hosts' blushes. For Lionel Messi it was another disappointment in a national team career which had already borne its fair share, and there was little love spared for the Barcelona ace from the sparsely populated stands.
As the old saying goes, you've come a long way, baby.
Fast forward to 2024 and the veteran now revels in the adoration of a country enraptured with every step he takes, every inspired swing of his left boot. More than a decade ago just 27,000 came out to watch the star and his stumbling team-mates; on Tuesday, Argentina probably could have filled the expanded 85,000-capacity of the Monumental two or three times over as fans continue to flock to every game featuring the reigning South American and World Cup champions. And as long as they keep putting on this kind of show, there is no indication that phenomenon will end any time soon.
Freed from the sodden mess they were confronted with in Maturín five days prior, the Albiceleste ran riot against Bolivia. Messi, in his first appearance on Argentine soil since before the Copa América, was predictably at the forefront of it all. It took the 37-year old less than 20 minutes to open the scoring after seizing on a mix-up in the Bolivia backline, and later in the first half he could have added another as he connected with an inspired pass from Julián Álvarez, but chose instead to roll the ball to Lautaro Martínez for the easiest of strikes. And seconds before the break he was at it again, playing in Álvarez with his own exceptional assist to effectively end the game as a contest.
This was the first time all three forwards had started a match for Argentina, but the trio looked as if they had played together their entire careers. Leo, Julián and Lautaro were a haze of diagonal movement which ripped Bolivia's static defensive line to shreds, raising the tantalising prospect of this attacking unit taking Argentina to an even higher level in games to come.
And even with the encounter as good as over, there was more to come. Two goals in two minutes for Messi to complete his hat-trick, the second coming from a fine one-two with debutant Nico Paz – who at just 20 was still only a twinkle in father Pablo's eye when in 2004 the teenage Lionel first appeared in an Argentina shirt with the Under 20s.
Another dream evening for Argentina's evergreen talisman, who once more rolled back the years to leave his audience spellbound and wanting more.
But how much more? Messi again chose to skirt that most dreaded of questions, when enough will be enough: “I haven't really put a date or deadline on myself, I just want to enjoy all of this. Being here and feeling the fans' love moves me because I know these might be my final games. [I want to] finish the year on a high and start preparing for another year, taking it step by step and enjoying every day.”
One thing is for certain: after those dark years of disappointing games in front of empty Monumental seats, Messi is in no rush to walk away while Argentina are still bulldozing all-comers and the Albiceleste faithful greets his every move like the national hero he is – and for as long as he can dominate a game in as spell-binding a fashion as we were treated to on this unforgettable Tuesday night.
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