The Immortals

“When all of the universe failed his dreams, a magician finally gave up on the possibilities of a miracle.” This was the post I had put up on my Facebook wall on the morning of 27th June 2016. It was the occasion of the final of the Copa America (South American National Football Championship) at MetLife Stadium, New York. And Lionel Messi, having missed his penalty kick in the shootout, lost out to Chile in most unforgiving fashion. This was the third straight loss in the title-decider match for Argentina in as many years. But what transpired after the match near the locker room put the whole world in shock- Messi, clearly being crushed by the weight of expectations of 44 million Argentines and millions of his admirers around the globe, weepingly announced his retirement from international football at the age of 29. Understanding that his decision to quit the National team was in desperation and haste, Messi quickly took a U-turn to return to represent the Albiceleste two months later. But seldom did the world realise that this move would be a turning point in the history of global sports and Argentina’s ascent to immortality. 

Much water has flown under the bridge since I put up that post. After that crushing defeat in 2016, Messi and co came crashing out of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in the Round of 16 at the hands of eventual winners France. The Copa America in the subsequent year again saw them fall just short at the hands of arch-rivals Brazil, where they finished third. But the team’s rise was visible in bits and pieces and would be truly unleashed only in 2021 when they beat hosts Brazil in the final at the iconic Maracana. This victory was more than just a routine honour for one of the oldest national teams playing this sport. It was the breaking of the curse which had kept them away from any silverware for the past 28 years. Messi was judged as the best player of the tournament and rightly so, with 4 goals and 5 assists. It was the moment when the entire nation started to believe that they could overcome the demons of all these years. Their faith paid off, and Argentina became the champions of the world in Qatar in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The story was the same, yet again- the modern-day Messiah carried the weight of the entire nation and lifted the trophy while also becoming the best player of the tournament (for the second time after 2014). By now, the team had developed the monster mentality of never giving up and dying trying on the pitch as a single unit that is addicted to winning at any cost. The same script repeated, and the clear dominance of the South American giants continued in the Copa America of 2024 as well. 

Such inspirational journeys become stories which shows us that the things we perceived to be impossible are nothing but our constraints of mind. Throughout history, there have been people and teams whose names refuse to fade, echoing across time in stories, songs, and collective memory. Whether in the roaring stadiums of sports, the hushed halls of literature, the grand stages of politics, or the timeless galleries of art, these figures have become more than performers or leaders—they have become immortal. History continues to be kind to icons like Michelangelo, whose masterpieces such as the Sistine Chapel still leave viewers in awe, and Alexander the Great, whose conquests continue to inspire tales of ambition and strategy. The music of Michael Jackson continues to captivate audiences across the world, and the principles of Mahatma Gandhi still guide movements for peace and justice. Their legacies thrive because their work and lives transcend the boundaries of their time.

Their journey to this rare state is never sudden. It begins with an unyielding dedication to their craft, a quiet persistence that spans years of unseen toil. One can imagine the athlete rising before dawn, repeating drills till the body moves out of pure instinct, or the writer labouring in the dim glow of a lamp, chasing the perfect sentence. Their commitment is total, and it is this relentless pursuit of excellence that forms the invisible foundation of their legacy. The current generation of the Argentina National Football Team also has rightfully earned their name in the bracket of immortals mentioned above. Falling short of winning the FIFA World Cup back-to-back, a feat which has not been repeated since the Brazilian team of 1958 and 1962, definitely makes it an event akin to Black Swan in football. But that doesn’t take away the love and admiration of millions of people standing behind the team as a rock. Even the ones who reviled them for supporting other national teams or players cannot help but acknowledge the greatness of this team and the immortality of its leader, Lionel Messi. 

In conclusion, for a country which was once among the world's wealthiest nations per capita in the early 20th century, and now constantly enduring a cycle of recurrent sovereign defaults, chronic inflation, and severe political instability, football is not just a sport. It is an escape for the ordinary Argentines from the misery of inflation and unemployment. It is a form of pure joy amidst all the anxiety and desperation surrounding the streets. Despite being the reigning World Champions, this group of players fought again with every drop of blood and sweat. They fought together until their lungs burst out and their legs gave way. They fell short in the final match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the exact same place where Messi decided to quit a decade earlier. Perhaps the curse of MetLife Stadium, New York, may take some more time to be broken. But, for the world out there, this Argentina team and Messi gracefully remind us that even in the post-truth world dictated by false narratives and propaganda by a section of the media, hate cannot hide but must die a silent death. Messi, the only player and Captain to lead his team to three World Cup final matches, the last one coming at the twilight of his career at 39 years of age, would now turn back and realise that the universe didn’t fail his dreams but it gave him back multi-fold. He, alongside his beloved teammates, Lionel Scaloni and support staff, became immortal in the history books and memories of millions. The beautiful memories that shall outlive posterity across the nations. And all this with just a ball at their feet. Thank you, Muchachos!