“Messi’s case surpasses everything known until now”
Mauricio Macriformer president of Argentina (2015-2019) and of the Boca Juniors soccer club (1995-2007), compared what Lionel Messi and Diego Armando Maradona represent for Argentines and considered that the current captain of the Albiceleste “has set an example” by distancing himself from the populist movement that, he says, took advantage of ‘Pelusa’.
“The populist movement (in reference to Peronism) has only wanted to appropriate Maradona and has had a hard time accepting Messi. Perhaps because Messi was educated for a good part of his life in Europe, far from populism (…) Messi has set an example by distancing himself as much as possible from the transgressive behaviors of populism,” said Macri, in an interview published this Saturday in L’Équipe.
For the conservative politician, “Messi’s case surpasses everything known until now because it happens in an era of global communication. He must be the person who has generated the most positive comments in the history of Humanity.” Macri, who has headed the FIFA Foundation since 2020, considered that the FC Barcelona legend has proven to be “a humble and serious leader, both in victory and defeat.”
The statements of Macri, the most successful president in the history of the ‘xeneize’ club, with 16 titles – including four Copa Libertadores – during his administration, come on the eve of the World Cup final between the United States, Mexico and Canada, which Spain and Argentina will play this Sunday.
