What fascinates me more than the hat-trick is one question I’d love to ask Messi: How did you make them love you this much? Messi has reached a level with his teammates that even Maradona never truly achieved throughout his career.
The man in front of you is the same player who, after Argentina reached the 2014 World Cup final, had Mascherano walk up to him and say: “I’m tired of seeing you suffer. Today, we’re playing only for your happiness.” When the media criticized Messi, Agüero said they used to ask themselves just one question: “How can we get the ball to him in the best possible position to prove he’s the best?”
Then came Copa América 2021, when Di María said: “I was ready to break my leg if it meant Messi could win an international trophy.” Less than a year later, the level of devotion had somehow gone even higher. De Paul said: “I could go to war for him without even knowing the reason.” Emiliano Martínez went even further: “I’d be willing to die for Messi on the pitch.”
Now we’ve reached 2026. Do you think anything has changed? If anything, it’s become even stronger. Álvarez and Lautaro received chances they could have finished themselves, yet they waited for Messi and squared the ball to him so he could complete his hat-trick.
This Argentina team moves as one, beats as one, and rallies behind one name:
Messi. 🐐🇦🇷