On Saturday night, the crowd at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa in Rosario, Argentina turned toward the big screen and saw Lionel Messi. Newell’s Old Boy’s most treasured former youth player walked through the stadium corridors to the pitch. The chanting became louder as the camera followed Messi’s every step.
The commentators for Newell’s social media stream could hardly believe that Messi, now a world champion, was about to play a match in his hometown.
“¡Allí está Lionel Andrés Messi, ícono de Newell’s!” (There’s Lionel Andrés Messi, a Newell’s icon!), screamed the commentator.
“¡Me vuelvo loco!” (I’m going crazy!), the analyst said in disbelief.
When Messi emerged from the tunnel and greeted the crowd, red fireworks and flares shot out from Newell’s ultra section. It was a fitting tribute for the club’s most famous academy product.
Newell’s Old Boys turned up big for Leo Messi’s return to the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa on his birthday ????
???? @Newells pic.twitter.com/XzhhXl3CFA
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) June 25, 2023
Messi was the special guest star on a night when Newell’s honored Maxi Rodríguez, the former Liverpool and Argentina winger who made over 200 appearances for the Rosario-based club. Rodríguez’s name was on the marquee, but the reception that Messi received, albeit expected in his hometown of Rosario, was the latest sign of Messi’s newfound status as a deity in Argentina after years of more complicated emotions toward him. Even those who know him well remain star struck.
Benjamín Aguero, the 14-year-old son of former Manchester City and Argentina forward Sergio Aguero and grandson of Diego Maradona, tried his best to keep it together when he saw his godfather.
“Everyone knows that (Messi) and my dad are good friends, but when I greet him I’m like any other fan. My hand trembles,” said Benjamín, who also happens to be Messi’s godson, on Saturday night.
“ES EL MEJOR AMIGO DE MI VIEJO, PERO CUANDO LO SALUDO SOY UN FANÁTICO MÁS… ME TIEMBLA LA MANO”
✍???? Benja Agüero sobre Messi
???? #GraciasMaxienStarPlus | #StarPlusLA pic.twitter.com/tCIryyzJee
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) June 25, 2023
That wasn’t always the case. Messi was once vilified in Argentina. His statues were vandalized. His Argentine citizenship was questioned. For nearly a decade, Messi was a target of nationalistic vitriol. That has all changed. Messi is now a World Cup champion. He may not have a church dedicated to worshiping him like Diego Maradona (yet), but Messi, as was evidenced this past weekend, has finally become a universally accepted national hero.
In Argentina, footballing loyalties are feverish and sometimes destructive. The Newell’s ultras are notorious for treading a fine line between fandom and violent crime. Their city rivals, Rosario Central, are no different, which makes the rivalry among the most intense in South America. Messi, and before him Maradona, are perhaps the only Newell’s players who are respected by the Rosario Central fan base. A truce that can only be negotiated by a World Cup trophy.
“It’s always beautiful to come to Rosario,” Messi said as the fans sang his name. “The people of Rosario, both from Newell’s and Central, have always shown their affection towards me, regardless of the colors. We recently accomplished what everyone in Argentina wanted through unity, hard work and sacrifice. That’s what’s most important. We did for the entire country.”
Messi’s Argentina teammate and close friend Ángel Di María played for Central, before embarking on his own magnificent career in Europe. Rodríguez invited Di María to his testimonial, but two days prior, he called Di María to make sure “El Fideo” (The Noodle) as Di María is referred to, would be comfortable showing his face at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa. Di María played alongside Messi on a squad of Argentina national team legends against Newell’s legends team.
¡UN APLAUSO PARA LOS CAMPEONES DEL MUNDO! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/qBbjG5zIT2
— Diario Olé (@DiarioOle) June 24, 2023
To avoid the jeering that was expected of a ex-Central player, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, a former Newell’s fullback, walked onto the pitch with his arm around Di María’s shoulders. The crowd cheered the two World Cup champions. Crisis averted.
“We have to stop thinking about one kit or the other,” Di María told reporters after the match. “I was afraid about what could happen when I walked out. I didn’t think they’d insult me personally, but I didn’t expect this either. I’m grateful. This was unforgettable for Maxi.”
The Newell’s legends team was coached by Tata Martino, a former creative midfielder for the club, who also won the 2013 Primera División title with Newell’s as a manager and now has a stand named after him at their stadium. Martino was welcomed as a club great, but all eyes were on his interactions with Messi. Martino told ESPN Argentina before the game that he and his staff are “still talking to Inter Miami.”
Soon, they’ll be player & coach in Miami.
Tata Martino greeting Leo Messi at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa last night. #Newells pic.twitter.com/XNmFFrFiP5
— Newell’s Old Boys – English (@Newells_en) June 25, 2023
As previously reported by The Athletic, Martino is the frontrunner to succeed Phil Neville in Miami and reunite with Messi in Major League Soccer. Martino and Messi embraced inside the team dressing room before kick off and later shared a laugh with each other before the match began. Martino managed Messi at FC Barcelona for one season in 2013-2014 and again as head coach of the Argentina national team from 2014-2016.
Messi, a pura risa con Martino y Heinze.
???? #GraciasMaxienStarPlus | #StarPlusLA pic.twitter.com/4saCn7xgkL
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) June 24, 2023
Messi only played during the first half but scored a hat trick and delighted the crowd with his silky touches. The giddy commentator sang a modified version of a Beatles classic for him.
¡¡EL PRIMER GOL DEL PARTIDO ES UNA MARAVILLA DE LEO MESSI, EL MÁS GRANDE DE LA HISTORIA!!
???? #GraciasMaxienStarPlus | #StarPlusLA pic.twitter.com/F8q0iXsUhX
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) June 24, 2023
The following day, he boarded a private jet bound for Buenos Aires. Messi would again be the featured guest at another testimonial, this time for Juan Román Riquelme, the former Boca Juniors No. 10. Riquelme, now the club’s vice president of football, is a massive figure in the folkloric and title-laden history of Boca Juniors.
Last week during a news conference, reporters applauded when Riquelme confirmed that Messi would attend the match.
“It’s a dream for me, too,” Riquelme said stoically. The anticipation of how Messi would be received at Boca’s Estadio La Bombonera dominated the headlines in Argentina. The fans at the famed ground are accustomed to worshiping some of Argentina’s greatest-ever players.
Maradona donned the blue and yellow kit during two stints with the club. Riquelme won 11 titles, including three Copa Libertadores finals and an Intercontinental Cup with Boca. Messi was received with the respect and admiration that he deserves. But Boca fans let him know who they were truly there to see.
“Messi, Messi, Messi, me tenés que perdonar, en La Boca el más grande, el más grande es Román”.
La canción de La 12 en la despedida de Riquelme. ????????????pic.twitter.com/brW5DBIhKQ
— Ataque Futbolero (@AtaqueFutbolero) June 25, 2023
“Messi, Messi, Messi, you’ll have to forgive me,” Boca’s ultras chanted. “In La Boca, the greatest ever is Román.” Riquelme would later tell the sellout crowd that he didn’t know if Messi is “bigger than Maradona,” but that both World Cup winners were the best players he would see in his lifetime.
Messi at the Bombonera. Volume up. Wow.pic.twitter.com/goPx8iNK4a
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) June 26, 2023
Messi got emotional when La Bombonera started singing “Dale Campeon” to him ❤️????pic.twitter.com/uywjIJ4SAo
— All About Argentina ???????????? (@AlbicelesteTalk) June 25, 2023
“It’s an incredible feeling to be part of (Riquelme’s) testimonial because of what he means to Boca and to Argentine football,” Messi said. “We were here to have fun and that’s what we did today.”
Messi scored once in the second half before coming off the field to a round of applause. He was replaced by former River Plate striker Javier Saviola, who was promptly heckled by the Boca crowd.
Messi scores and for the first time Boca Juniors fans are celebrating the goal against Boca ????
— All About Argentina ???????????? (@AlbicelesteTalk) June 25, 2023
Messi told a television reporter that he’s looking forward to a short vacation with his family. “Then I’ll head to my new city, to my new team,” he said.
With his status in his home country finally sealed, now he sets his sights on conquering the United States. He’s coming to America at a time when his fame is arguably at its peak. Next stop: Miami.
(Photo: STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)
