World champions, American champions, Intercontinental Finalissima champions. Did we ever fly that high? Who had thought in 2018, after the frustration and chaos at the World Cup in Russia, that Argentine soccer would be where it is now?
Tomorrow, as if all this had to be validated, the soccer world will set its sights on the Salle Pleyel in Paris, a symphony concert hall and the headquarters of the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra and the Paris Orchestra, where FIFA will present the prizes the best Never before has there been so much media attention for this award as these days. It is another of the consequences of the World Cup won just over two months ago: the euphoria continues, and probably continues because among the nominees are Lionel Messi, the captain and emblem of the National Team; Dibu Martínez, the hero of the final in Lusail against France; Lionel Scaloni, the coach who named the team after him; and the Argentine fans, admired and analyzed in other countries as a phenomenon difficult to understand.
Argentine supporters filled the streets of Buenos Aires and every point in the country throughout the World Cup, but above all they did so in Qatar, a country located 13,278 kilometers away. Thousands of fans traveled and took over each stand, which is why it became another attractive color during the 28 days that the World Cup tournament took place.
FIFA described the national nomination as follows on its website: “The journey from Argentina to Qatar is not exactly short, but La Albiceleste fans have flocked to Doha since the start of the tournament to support Lionel Messi in his last attempt to win the only trophy that remained elusive until then.
“The noise they made in the stands was constant, with drumbeats and chants that made almost every game in Argentina seem like a home game for Messi and company,” added FIFA.
Argentina will compete with Japan, renowned for cleaning its stands after each game. “We think it is better to live in a cleaner place and also because we want to thank the place we visited. It is a habit. They have taught me that way since I was a child”, described Megumi, a Japanese fan during the World Cup in Qatar. Saudi fans Abdullah Al Salmi will also be on the shortlist, who spent 55 days walking through the desert to see his team in action.
In the purely sports shortlists, Messi will compete in the category of best player of the year against the French Kylian Mbappé, scorer in Qatar, and Karim Benzema, who could not be with the French national team in Qatar due to injury, but did an outstanding job at lead Real Madrid to win another UEFA Champions League title in 2022.
In the category of best goalkeeper, FIFA chose Emiliano Dibu Martínez, from Aston Villa, but mainly for his performance in the World Cup with Argentina. The same goes for Yassine Bounou, from Sevilla, one of the stars of Morocco, the revelation of Qatar. Thibaut Courtois, star of Real Madrid champion of the Champions League, completes the podium. Precisely, Real also positioned Carlo Ancelotti in the list of best coaches, in which he will compete with Pep Guardiola (City) and the creator of La Scaloneta. The consecration in each shortlist is almost an anecdote: the best prize, the third star in our history, is at home. The rest doesn’t matter at all.
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