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Buenos Aires – Argentina national team captain Lionel Messi said he was “sad” that Diego Armando Maradona would not be there to see Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“It’s very sad that he can’t live our life because I know how he feels about Argentina,” the Inter Miami player said in an interview with ESPN Network.
Regarding his relationship with “el Pelusa”, the man from Rosario declared that, beyond what some people say, they have great respect for each other and stressed that Maradona has always been a football icon throughout the world.
“He loves me very much and I love him, despite the words that are said in between. We both know how we feel,” said the former FC Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain player.
The team led by the Argentine star remembers fondly the experience in the country of Qatar, which represented the third star on the national jersey and also mobilized millions of people to celebrate the long-awaited title at the famous Obelisk on Avenue 9 de Julio in Buenos Aires.
“We experienced the World Cup together,” Messi recalled. “It was an unforgettable experience, apart from the result. “I was excellent and I enjoyed being the national team coach,” he said, recalling Maradona’s time as coach of the Albiceleste (2008-2010).
The man from Rosario now faces the challenge of revalidating the Copa America title won in Brazil in 2021, a tournament that will begin on June 20 in the United States, with Argentina having performed well in the South American qualifiers and becoming the number one favorite for the 2026 World Cup.
Regarding the possibility of the striker defending the Argentina jersey again at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Messi confirmed that he had spoken with the U-23 coach, former footballer Javier Mascherano, and announced that he would not play in that tournament, where the team will seek the gold medals that it already won in 2004 and 2008.
“I spoke to ‘Masche’ and the truth is that we both understand the situation,” he said.
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