Mini Fassi 🕜

Javier Mascherano on why Lionel Messi broke down in tears after the final whistle against Spain in the FIFA World Cup final. 🗣️ Javier Mascherano: “After the match, I went straight to Leo. I hugged him and didn’t say anything for a few seconds because I knew there were no words that could take away that pain. When he finally spoke to me, he said something that broke my heart.” “He told me, ‘Jefe, these tears aren’t because we lost the World Cup. Of course losing hurts, but that’s not what’s breaking me. I’m crying because this might be the last time I ever wear the Argentina shirt. That’s the pain I can’t accept.’” “When he said those words, I couldn’t hold back my own tears. People think footballers only cry because they lose trophies. They don’t understand. Sometimes you’re crying because you know a chapter of your life the most beautiful chapter is coming to an end.” “I’ve known Leo for almost my entire career. I’ve seen him lift trophies, lose finals, face criticism and silence the world. But I’ve never seen him look the way he looked that night. It wasn’t the face of a man defeated by Spain. It was the face of a man saying goodbye to the jersey he loves more than anything.” “He kept looking at the Argentina badge on his chest. He touched it, kissed it and whispered, ‘I gave you everything I had.’ There wasn’t a single person in that dressing room who could look at him without crying.” “If that truly was his last match for Argentina, then the world didn’t witness the end of a football career it witnessed the final page of the greatest international story this sport has ever known. No trophy can measure what Lionel Messi gave to his country. He didn’t leave with just tears in his eyes; he left having given every last piece of his heart to Argentina.