Times Square in New York is one of the most famous real estate areas in the world. The Argentinian fans in town looked different.
When midtown Manhattan turned into an Albiceleste street party, police officers unfamiliar with Argentinian soccer culture but accustomed to monitoring peaceful protests were confused.
Tuesday’s “banderazo”, a pre-match tradition that encourages fans to fly flags and sing the national team’s songs, was proof that Messi and Argentina are still in a state of ecstasy since winning the World Cup in 2022. Of?
𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐀 Crowded Times Square🤯🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/gfaQhkMeh0
— Argentina National Team English (@AFASeleccionEN) June 25, 2024
More than 80,000 fans at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey continued to witness a classic South American battle between Argentina and Chile. The two countries understand each other very well. Chile faced Argentina in back-to-back Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016, but Messi’s side got revenge on Tuesday with a narrow 1-0 victory to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
There are big differences between the continental finals and the group stages, but there’s something special about this new rivalry. Argentina are world champions and Copa America winners. Their team hotel was surrounded by fans who acted like they wanted to catch a glimpse of the latest pop-rock boy band. The frenzy reached new levels against Chile.
Messi has a huge following around the world. His admirers come from all over the world, and many have had a close connection with the Argentina captain since his 17 landmark seasons at Barcelona. They supported him even after Argentina’s humiliating defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.
After Argentina lost to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final at MetLife Stadium, Messi suddenly announced his retirement from the national team. But his fans didn’t reject him either.
So when Argentina defeated France in a thrilling World Cup final in Qatar two years ago, the love and respect that Messi’s fans had for him tripled. Argentina, like Brazil in the early 1990s, is a world championship team made up of stars, cool off the field and full of energy on it.
Times Square is packed with Argentinian fans (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Argentina’s stardom on the international stage is reminiscent of France in 1998, when they knocked Brazil off its pedestal, or Spain in the 2000s, who had an incredible run from 2008 to 2012, winning World Cup and two European Championships.
Argentina is seeking a third consecutive international trophy since 2021 and back-to-back Copa America titles for the first time since 1993.
In New Jersey, MetLife Stadium is decorated in blue and white. There was hardly a seat empty. Fans from around the world come to watch Messi and his teammates on their soccer-themed tour of the U.S. East Coast. They left with barely a goal celebration as a stingy Chilean team did their best to spoil the party. Chile was not intimidated by the three stars above Argentina’s crest or the thousands of fans. Their fouls in the first half frustrated Messi but were not punished by the merciful Uruguayan referee Andres Matonte.
The game at times resembled a massive street fight. For Chile, the draw felt like an important moral victory. On the contrary, in the 88th minute, Argentine center Lautaro Martinez saved a bounce shot in the Chilean penalty area and shot from close range. Martinez is one of the best strikers in the world.
He scored 24 goals to help Inter Milan win the Serie A championship last season, but he suffered a confidence-loss goal drought in the Argentina team, failing to score from September 2022 to March this year. He has now played five games for the national team, scoring five goals.
Will Messi be in danger in the final group game? (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I’m happy,” Martinez said. “I’m happy because I scored goals and helped the team. I haven’t scored in 16 games but I’m always willing to contribute to the team, whatever the team needs me to do.
Martinez’s humility contrasts sharply with the character of Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. In the stadium’s mixed zone, the Aston Villa man guaranteed Argentina would win six games and lift the Copa America.
Argentina is a team with diverse personalities. They marched together, like an army of battle-tested soldiers, still hungry for more hardcore. They are led by the soft-spoken Messi, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Monday. “We knew this game was going to be difficult – every game is like that,” the Inter Miami forward said. “Our games against Chile are always difficult.”
Messi denied the hamstring discomfort he felt in the first half was caused by the tackle. “I felt some discomfort in my right hamstring at the beginning of the game,” he said. “It was tense. It wasn’t as loose as it should have been. But I was able to finish the race. We’ll see how things go.
Messi admitted he had been suffering from a sore throat and fever. His status for the final group match against Peru on June 29 is uncertain.
Then it’s off to Messi’s new hometown of Miami, where the crowd at Hard Rock Stadium will be buzzing. But will Messi come on or will head coach Lionel Scaloni rest his captain?
Messi was surrounded by New York State Police in a mixed zone packed with international reporters, but he showed no signs of slowing down. He giggled when he learned of Emiliano Martinez’s bold prediction.
“He speaks like this because he has confidence in himself and in this team,” Messi said. “But we are the same group of players as before, humble. A team that is taking it game by game. We will fight for this title. Hopefully we can get there.
(Top photo: Charly Triballeau/Getty Images)
