Famous English referee’s flogging word and Gary Lineker’s praise: “The biggest game I’ve ever seen.”

The Argentine national team was crowned world champions on Sunday for the first time in 36 years. A milestone for two generations who knew nothing but frustration in the World Cup events. The expression of complete jubilation that filled the streets of the whole country was inevitable and entirely justified. All kinds of songs were sung, all kinds of dedications were given, and there was one in particular that was unavoidable, as in all Argentine festivities: “The one who does not jump is an Englishman“.

However, there is some irony regarding this idea. The Argentine has his historical, political and even footballing reasons for “remembering” England in his celebrations, as if he were a lifelong rival in football folklore (if he doesn’t delve into the geopolitical background). But the feeling is not reciprocated. In the UK there is no resentment or envy The fact that a historic opponent won a title has been denied for 56 years, but the scale of the conquest and peak in the career of Lionel Messi Arouses deep respect. In fact, it could even be said The British coverage of the Argentine Campaign was one of the most highly regarded coverage of albiceleste on the planet.

World Champion in Argentina: The English press was full of praise for the team’s performance

Few journalists from that country portrayed his devotion to La Pulga football better than expected Peter Drury. Who’s part of the broadcast on ITV is known for its prose when it comes to narrating the great moments in football’s recent history, and when Gonzalo Montiel Converting the final penalty kick to the third star wasn’t out of place: “The nation will tango all night long. After 36 years of Maradona and Mexico, a new batch of immortals has finally arrivedpronounced drori. “Scaloni would be appreciated. Messi will be canonized. France, this time, denied and defied. Lionel Messi occupied his last peak. Lionel Messi extended his hand towards heaven. Santa Fe, Rosario’s young son, launches skyward and ascends to a galaxy of his own. He has his coronation moment, but he’s not alone.

The number 10 has also had a few more overseas cheering fans over time than the former England footballer Gary Lineker. The author of the opposition in that legendary match against Argentina in Mexico 1986 covered the World Cup in Qatar for the BBC with Pablo Zabaleta from Rio de la Plata, and he couldn’t hide his joy when Lionel Scaloni’s side confirmed this achievement: “The biggest match I’ve ever seen…and the correct result. The better team wins,” Leicester City and Tottenham previously shared on their social networks, then dedicated an exclusive message to Messi: “It has been an absolute honor to see Lionel Messi for nearly two decades. Moment after moment of magical football and fun that never gives you a break. It is a gift from the football gods. I am delighted that he has raised the highest award in our sport,” he wrote, concluding in Spanish: “Thank you and congratulations to the hero“.

Lineker wasn’t the only former player to dedicate himself to Messi’s homage. Alan Shearerthe all-time leading scorer Premier League Of English football with 260 goals, he wrote in his column in The Athletic an ode to Argentina’s World Cup and tournament. Kylian Mbappewhere he asserts thatIt can no longer be disputedThe flea is “the best” in the sport. The historic striker continues his observation, thanking personalities and teams alike “for giving us what they have given us,” For their extraordinary refusal to overcome it and what seemed like a symmetry in changing testimony”, and argues that despite Mbappe’s dazzling performance, it felt “appropriate” for Messi to prevail: “I said before the match that I believed it was written in the stars that the greatest of all would end up shining bright, and it did, but I did not expect fate to challenge and taunt him as it did.. We did not expect a miracle, but it came to us.

The admiration extends to journalists who have no past in sports. Writer Mr. Lowe He opened the meeting’s history guardian He emphasized that Messi “completed football” and talked about the illusion about which the Argentine fans sang.It was snatched from them again and again but then retrieved as if some cosmic forceHe described the World Cup that he made as “his”:There’s never been a story like this before, a one-man-centric contest.They are all waiting for the final touch, the perfect farewell.”

Various forms of triumph were also echoed by the covers of English newspapers, but all respect prevailed for the world champion. “The greatest player, the greatest final, the greatest award,” were the words The Independent chose to headline a giant photo of Messi kissing the trophy. The Guardian portrayed him as “the glory in Messi’s coronation”. For The Daily Telegraph, “La Pulga cemented his place as the best player in the best World Cup final.”

Nation