What will become of Argentina and the Argentines without Messi?

We knew it, Leo. All of us Argentines knew that this decision could be confirmed soon, very soon. It could have been earlier, just after the World Cup. It could have been a few months later. It was a logical question of time. However, with that letter that you wrote two days after the final and that you made public a while ago, the imagined but less desired certainty arrived. Thank you for so many wonders, for never giving up, for your exploits. Thank you for so much… And sorry for a question full of healthy football selfishness: and now what do we do without you, Leo?

That question is surely already being asked by the president of the AFA (Argentine Football Association), Claudio Tapia, and of course the new marketing manager. An Argentina is coming without Messi on the playing field. With Messi outside, as an ambassador, in some other role? Surely, but everything remains to be seen.

There will be a reconfigured map. What will happen from this moment on with Argentina every time it sets foot somewhere in the world? Until now, Argentina was Messi’s number 10 shirt. Here, there, everywhere, in every adult, in every child, regardless of nationality. And now?

And what will Scaloni do?

The other person will be repeating that same question in his head. Lionel, Scaloni. Is your end also approaching as coach of Argentina? Will he direct until the end of the year, until his contract is fulfilled, and then he will say goodbye? To wait. To be defined.

Suddenly, the guide, the 10, the captain leaves… And from now on, we will have to rethink the Argentine National Team with other footballers. With many champions in Qatar still in action, although some already +30 will also follow Leo… And it will also be a more than heavy responsibility for the newest, the youngest, those who will have to take on Albiceleste football to give flight to another dream. It won’t be easy at all. Who will dare, for example, to wear that number?

Like Maradona

And in that barrage of frightening questions, the most basic, most genuine ones arise, ours, those of Argentines who simply love the football that the genius summed up perfectly.

We, who suffered Maradona’s Albiceleste end, are now terrified by Messi’s. Luckily, this epilogue is much sweeter than that of Diego. However, the fear of not feeling the same every time the National Team plays returns with the same force as that time when there was no longer Maradona in Argentina. It was very difficult after Diego. It was difficult to identify again in a special way with the National Team. And now the feeling of total emptiness, with the news of Leo’s goodbye just received, is identical. And now what do we do without you, Leo?