Tears take you back to a warm July night 36 years ago. As Leo Messi stood — defeated — at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night, it was impossible not to be reminded of Diego Maradona. “El Diego” was devastated when he accepted the 1990 World Cup at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico after Germany won 1-0.Two geniuses, two completely different characters, but so similar in their efforts to defend the ultimate glory of their careers. After reaching the pinnacle of his career in Qatar, Messi could have easily left. If Argentina had not reached the dizzying heights of 1986 four years later, few would question Maradona. But they are not ready to give up. When resources dry up, these two soldier-artists long to return to the top of the world, like an odyssey.Going into the final, just as Maradona’s Argentina were at a disadvantage against Germany in their heyday, so too were Messi’s Albiceleste against a Spain that had hit its stride.A look at Argentina’s possession in both finals also shows how they struggled to keep up with their respective European rivals. Argentina had just 35% of possession on Sunday, the lowest rate of any team in a World Cup final, while available statistics show Maradona’s side had 39% against Germany.Even a red card – the dismissal of Gustavo De Zotti late in the match in 1990 – cost the Argentine a late fight, as was the case with the Copa America champions on Sunday when Enzo Fernandez was ordered off. During the 1990 World Cup, Maradona’s team was past its prime and very similar to Messi’s team this time around. Unlike his predecessor who couldn’t score in Italy, Messi scored eight goals this time.
But Maradona’s influence was huge at the time. His assist to Claudio Caniggia defeated Brazil in the last 16, and the Argentine maestro’s sense of threat did not allow Yugoslavia and Italy, two well-drilled European sides, to bare their fangs.Just as Messi missed a penalty against Egypt in the last 16, Maradona also missed in the quarter-final decider against Yugoslavia, with goalkeeper Sergio Gocochea fighting back to save Argentina from humiliation.Another hallmark of the 1990 World Cup was Maradona’s delineation of the host nation, who also played in Naples. Ahead of the semi-final at the stadium now known as the Diego Maradona Arena, the city of Naples was divided – with one group cheering for their son and the other siding with the national colors and Azzurri.This time around, Messi’s Argentina have had a similarly polarizing effect on the football world. If you believe the noise, FIFA has played a role in the title’s rise, while others have backed Messi’s magic and the team’s incredible ability to turn things around time and time again.Ahead of the final, Maradona is, along with Messi, the biggest threat and Germany forward Jurgen Klinsmann explained on ESPN how they plan to neutralize the talent. “We knew one moment from Maradona could be the end for us. Our coach Franz Beckenbauer told (defensive midfielder) Guido Buchwald to follow Diego wherever he goes, even to the toilet… Bucky was stuck with Diego every minute of the game, making him largely ineffective. Buchwald’s persistence even earned him the surname ‘Diego’,” Klinsmann said.
Times have changed, it is no longer the era of man-to-man marking, and Spain’s tactics against Messi are also slightly different. That leaves Rodri and Marc Cucurella to control him when he’s in their area. The idea is to isolate him and cut off his passes. It wasn’t until the 117th minute that Messi took his first shot. If Mikel Merino hadn’t established his footing, the bloody shot might have gone into his head.The instructions given by Spanish coach Luis de la Fuentes to his team to control Messi are very similar to those given by Beckenbauer to his children years ago. “I tell my players that facing Messi is the biggest challenge in football. Even at his age, he demands our full respect from the first minute to the last minute. He pushed us to the absolute limit because that’s what the greatest players do,” De La Fuentes said.The inevitable happened. Ferran Torres looked like Andreas Bremer all those years ago, driving a dagger into the Argentinian’s heart late in the game. When the final whistle sounded, two magicians separated by time stood on the same podium with tears in their eyes. However, they are not the only ones in the world crying.
