London (AP) – A new trophy for the superstar, celebrated by teammates and fans: Lionel Messi was very satisfied after Argentina’s well-deserved 3-0 victory in the “Finalissima” against Italy.
“It was a wonderful final, full of Argentinians,” said the 35-year-old after the South American champions’ clear victory against the European champions at London’s Wembley Stadium. “What we experienced here was beautiful.” Almost half a year before the football World Cup in Qatar, the captain of the Albiceleste was self-confident: “We’ll take on everyone,” he said.
Argentinian fans outnumbered
Messi and Co. were in control on the field, while the Argentinian fans clearly outnumbered the 87,112 spectators in the stands. “We knew it was going to be a nice game and a nice setting,” said the superstar. The supporters enthusiastically cheered on their team, and when Messi was on the ball, the volume level increased significantly.
It almost seemed as if the multiple world footballer wanted to show after his rather meager first season with the French series champions Paris St. Germain what he is still capable of. Almost every attack went through the director. He scored two goals, but he failed to score one of his own. Once he failed at his club colleague Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Italian goal, once he aimed from an acute angle next to the empty goal.