Tonight, Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team have the opportunity to step onto the podium of glory at the World Cup for the second consecutive time when facing Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
But not only facing a very strong opponent, the match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is extremely emotional and complex for the 39-year-old legend.
10 years ago, at MetLife Stadium was the fateful cry that brought shock to the football world. 10 years ago, this place preserved the most painful memory in the career of the superstar of Rosario origin.
To understand the origin of this heartbreak, it is necessary to turn back time to the Copa America Centenario final taking place in 2016. At that time, Argentina faced Chile for 120 minutes and a very tense penalty shootout, before ending in the worst possible way for La Albiceleste.
Messi missed his kick, the Chilean team won the championship, leaving the Argentine captain with a deep crisis. The television lens recorded heartbreaking images when he sobbed, completely devastated by disappointment.
The deep sadness was so great that, immediately after the match, a Messi in a state of shock announced his retirement from international football.
Everything with me in the national team is over, I have tried very hard already," those heartbreaking words echoed throughout the country and sounded an alarm bell in the football world.
That decisive farewell decision created a strong social impact in Argentina, sparking a large-scale campaign calling for him to withdraw his decision. Among the millions of fans expressing support, there was a 15-year-old unnamed teenager playing for the River Plate youth team.
That teenager is none other than Enzo Fernandez, who is currently side by side with his idol. Moved by the pain of witnessing the world's best player retire, Enzo then decided to write and post an emotional letter with the sole purpose of bringing him back.
You can do whatever you want, Lionel, but please think about staying. Stay to find joy, which these people have taken away from you," quoted the sincere lines of Enzo's letter.
This letter is spreading strongly again before tonight's match.
1 decade after that heartbreaking episode, life and football have brought the path of the 2 players to intersection again in ideal circumstances. From begging him not to leave via the internet, Enzo has become one of the basic supports to protect the captain on the pitch.
World media poetically portrayed the story, that Messi's return to MetLife was not to say goodbye in the dark, but to try to settle his only remaining debt in North America.
Lionel Scaloni's students entered this match with a very high spirit after overcoming difficult obstacles throughout the 2026 World Cup. However, the psychological aspect will play an important role when they step onto the pitch and witness the tears and disappointment of the best player in the world.
This time, on the other side of the battle line is Spain, an opponent that Messi understands very well after many years of glory at Barcelona. Many experts affirm that this match has all the elements to become the perfect ending for an era.
Football always brings a second chance. Messi is facing the opportunity to turn the worst memory into the greatest joy. So that MetLife will finally be remembered as a place to witness eternal glory for him.
