MESSI SAYS GOODBYE TO ARGENTINA… WILL THEY STRUGGLE WITHOUT HIM? 🇦🇷

Project 90 Soccer: Messi is a god in Argentina

Marco: one of the greats, in the history

Project 90 Soccer: 126 goals

Marco: an alien in comparison to everybody else

Project 90 Soccer: 70 assists

Marco: we're never, ever, ever gonna see this again.

Project 90 Soccer: 135 wins

Marco: no one, I mean, absolutely no one can even clean his boots.

Project 90 Soccer: if you want to argue whether he's the actual goat, I can respect that argument. But if you're gonna argue that he's not even one of the goats then I'd say you're absolutely fucking delusional. Welcome to the Project 90 Soccer Podcast. My name is Antonio El Italiano Donna, and I'm here as always with the Monterey Bay FC shout out USL Marco Antonio Munoz. Marco, que sta pasando? Que está pasando? We're

Marco: ¿Qué está pasando, Anto? ¿Qué está pasando?

Project 90 Soccer: having a good day, man. How are you doing?

Marco: I'm doing great man. We're about to talk about one of the most important

Project 90 Soccer: Right a tuck.

Marco: figures, if not the most important figure, that has graced the football field, football field.

Project 90 Soccer: That is that is a fact, Marco. We are indeed talking about Lionel Messi today, who had his final game and is retiring and leaving the Argentinian national team after a massive, long, successful career with Argentina, which before we really get into it, what it means, what we're gonna what we're gonna see from Argentina moving forward, I just want to pay tribute to Messi, just kind of go over. Some of the legendary stats from his career internationally with Argentina. So I'm just going to go on a quick rant because I think it's important to realize that we just witnessed one of the absolute goats of the game on the international stage. So I want to just start off by saying Lionel Messi with Argentina, 208 caps, 126 goals 70 assists 135 wins 43 draws. And 30 defeats. 54 of those goals coming from international friendlies, 36 from World Cup qualifying, 21 from the World Cup itself, and 14 in the Copa America. His 126th goal came from a penalty in his farewell match versus Benin the other day. And his 36 World Cup qualifying goals are the most inconmible history. Trophies with Argentina for the senior national side for Argentina. Lionel Messi won the 2021 Copa America, where they beat Brazil one to zero at the Maracana's first major trophy with Argentina. The twenty twenty two Finalissima, where Argentina defeated my my Italy man. They absolutely destroyed them three to zero at Wembley. Messi had two assists that game. Then, of course, I think the one that everyone remembers the most is the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where they defeated France. It was a thrilling final, crazy final. they won that one on penalties. And then, of course, the 2024 Copa America, where they beat Colombia one to zero, where they became back to back Copa America champions. Messi actually won six major titles, though, wearing Argentina colors. Two in his youth career as well. In 2005, they won the FIFA U20 World Cup. And then in 2008, he won the gold medal with Argentina. Messi became the player with the most World Cup appearances in history with 34 appearances in the World Cup finals. He's the only player to have played six World Cups and scored in World Cups across his teens, twenties, and thirties. Which is kind of crazy stat right there. His record includes 34 appearances, most ever in World Cup history, 21 goals, 12 assists, which is the most ever as well, 23 wins, which is the most ever, 33 goal contributions, 11 player of the match awards, the most ever. Six World Cups he's played in, tied for most. Three World Cup finals started. Obviously, runners up in in two of them, champion in one of them, two golden balls. I mean, this guy is just ridiculous. Scored in nine consecutive World Cup matches. most World Cup match minutes in history, two thousand three hundred and fourteen, which pretty, pretty wild right there. So those are just some of the stats I wanted to go over, just to kind of highlight how absolutely epic and legendary his numbers are with Argentina. I also want to just throw in there that. For Argentina, this guy, let me find right here. He has 126 goals. And in second place was Gabriel Batistutha, a name that most of us probably have heard of or even remember watching. 126 goals for Messi. And in second place, Batistuth only had 56 goals. So I mean he scored more than double, just destroying things. And for Argentina, he's the all time leading goal scorer, all time appearance leader, all time assist leader. Con Mabolt's all-time World Cup qualifying scorer, Argentina's all time World Cup scorer, Argentina's most capped World Cup player, player with the most Copa America appearances, Argentina player with the most World Cup appearances, with the most World Cup wins, with the most World Cup assists, the most World Cup player of the match awards. And the irony of all this, the legendary career, is that when he started his career in his debut, it was August 17th, 2005. 18-year-old Messi came on to make his debut against Hungary. 47 seconds, 47 seconds later, he was sent off. So that is how his international career started. And now we all know how it ended. Marco, that was a lot. That was a lot. And it's expected from one of the GOATs, right? From one of the greatest players to ever do it. What did you, what do you, what do you think about just Messi's career in general with Argentina, if you had to sum it up.

Marco: At this point, why didn't we just call this guy Lionel the most messy?

Project 90 Soccer: I mean, it's crazy.

Marco: I mean, I think that's his retirement nickname moving forward 'cause man, I just kept going and going and going and going and going and going.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: rightfully so. one of the the best players I've ever seen in my eyes, right? And he came up the ranks playing with the Ronaldinhos, with with the Legends right off the bat and he was able to sustain his place at the top and he just kept going beyond beyond this earth and I I don't know what to say, man. This guy just did it all. He demonstrated his capabilities. He this guy was from another planet. I mean, if if we want to talk about 2011, 2013, no one, I mean, absolutely no one can even clean his boots. No one.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, crazy years there.

Marco: Even now, no one can can can clean his boots, right? They can get get close, but Anto, we're never, ever, ever gonna see this again. Not with this guy. I we

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Marco: can get close, but we're never ever gonna see this alien ever again. it's just it's just crazy, man, the what he was able to to accomplish. And when you thought that was it, he kept coming back and he kept showing you what he can do with with with his club, Barcelona and with with with his country, which he had retired, remember, because he's also dealt

Project 90 Soccer: He did.

Marco: with with mental stuff going on and he takes family stuff very, very seriously. But ultimately they were able to reel him back in and I'm glad that they did because Although Argentina, right? These guys are as much as we we we love they they they like to throw stuff in your face, right? So

Project 90 Soccer: yeah.

Marco: they they really needed this guy to to get to next level and and win another World Cup. So huge shout out for Argentina producing the best players, if not the best, you guys produce the ever so legend Maradona and then two not even A long time after, not even decades after, 30 decades after you guys produce messy in less than thirty

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: years. So it's crazy, man. Lionel, Lionel,

Project 90 Soccer: That's what's crazy. Yeah. That

Marco: the most messy. And before you go on, there's one thing that I'm never gonna forget in two thousand and twelve, I believe. He scored ninety-one goals in one season, Anton.

Project 90 Soccer: Unbelievable, yeah.

Marco: Seventy-nine for Barcelona and the rest. International duties.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: So when you keep saying the most goal scores, the most minutes, I'm yeah, that sounds about right. Keep going. It's like Messi's like a guy that you created on FC, on FIFA, and you just gave him a hundred on everything. On ever except for except

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. It's made perfect, literally.

Marco: for except for defending, right? But

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: a hundred percent on everything. Give him a hundred percent. He doesn't have to be the tallest

Project 90 Soccer: Crazy man.

Marco: guy, he doesn't have to be the most physical, but he was in and out. He he made things happen. And I know I'm a Ronaldo guy. But I'm

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: also the type of guy I like to give him some stick, right? That's just what I do. But I'm also gonna respect the fact that this guy, he was just from from a from another planet that thinks he was doing.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, and I I wanted to touch on that. There's obviously the huge debate. And I think if you want to argue whether he's the actual goat, the actual goat of the beautiful game, I can respect that argument. But if you're gonna argue that he's not even one of the goats or a legend in in his own right, then I'd say you're absolutely fucking delusional. right? Because if if you're gonna sit here and tell me that he's just not a legend or one of the goats, you're just crazy. I don't even know what you're watching. the argument though, whether he's the GOAT, the greatest of all time, that's up for interpretation. I mean, I don't think there'll ever be an answer for that. But what's very interesting in Messi's international career was how, like you had mentioned, he did retire, right? He had been to the World Cup final, he lost. He had lost Copa America finals. He decided, you know what, it's time to hang it up. He hung up the boots. And then what does he do? He comes back, and not only does he win one trophy, he wins four trophies with Argentina, which is Pretty crazy. It's pretty wild, right? So, and then speaking as well, like you were mentioning with Maradona, I don't know if Argentinians were you know, when they were watching Maradona back in the day, if they ever thought that they would ever in a million years see another player like Maradona or even arguably better than Maradona, right? And we were lucky enough to live through that, right? And see that. I I believe he's he's truly the goat of goats. You know, in his own right, at least in his own right. I mean, the guy, like you say, is a freak. You see some of the shit he does, and it's just unbelievable, right? That a guy like that can even exist. And alongside with Ronaldo, because I know that's the the big topic. I mean, the fact that they're doing it for this long, it's not like they had a a hot five seasons or six seasons. It's been twenty years. And we're still talking like we're still talking about them, which is crazy. but yeah.

Marco: I thought with the with the first three goats, right? That that well we'll we'll s we'll just talk about these three. I understand why somebody would say, no, Pele's my goat. Because to that point in time, Pele was an alien in comparison to everybody else that had been playing the game, right?

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: And then here comes the evolution of the style of play where Maradona was playing and the Serie A was ruling. the leagues, right? So I can understand why people say, well this guy brings something different than Pellet. This guy's the greatest, right? And then I mean and Maradona's the greatest. And then we it continues to evolve. We see some goal scores here. We see guys left and right and then the messy era starts and he's totally different. So I understand each era. That's why me, I never like I said I'm always gonna root for my guys, but I'm never gonna say It's one over the other because those generations were different. Just like in basketball.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Yeah. You had Julius Irving coming up before Jordan. Yeah, Jerry West, Bill Russell. You had all these guys. And then here came MJ. Right. Then MJ Yeah, Kobe,

Project 90 Soccer: Right, and then Kobe Le John LeBron, yeah.

Marco: Labrezzo, right? Stuff like that. And then

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. The Brizzle.

Marco: and there's gonna be another guy. So you're gonna be always comparing. So I'd like to say, and I think I've told you this in the past, let's just enjoy both both both of the guys or whoever we have,

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: because Sooner or later, Antho's gonna come to an end, and it's came to an end, where

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: although these guys are the faces of the sport, we're not gonna see every Saturday, Sunday, or even during the week when we're watching Champions League.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, unbelievably privileged to have witnessed it. And to to have two of them at the same time. Cause these previous ones, the other ones you were talking about, Pele, Maradona, you know, they didn't really play against each other in big rivalries like Barcelona versus Real Madrid, like we saw. So obviously, this episode's about Messi, but to have seen

Marco: Mm-hmm.

Project 90 Soccer: Messi and Ronaldo at the same exact time play these games. And I don't know how many people at the time even realized that we were witnessing literally greatness. Something that who knows? Who knows if we will ever Ever see that again. Obviously, there's Maradona, then Messi. So the odds are we probably will see someone again. There's talks of Laminha Mall players like that in the future. But until then, it's it's it's it kind of crazy to say that and to to look back and not not be grateful as fans that we literally just saw the craziest career of all time, right? And they're still they're still playing at club level. It's not, you know, they didn't retire fully. But international careers over. No more Messi in the World Cup. No more Copa Americas. So yeah, man, it's it's unbelievable. You read those stats off that I did and you realize this guy really got after it. You know what I'm saying? So moving on though from from just his individual stats, I want to touch on the Argentinians love Messi. Messi is a god in Argentina and Messi clearly loves Argentina, he gives everything for that shirt. And you know, moving moving forward now that he's retired, it's it was very apparent that they relied heavily on Messi in the past, let's say, 10 years since he came back from retirement. He used to get a lot of shit because he had never won anything. They used to give him a lot of criticism. Then he came back and it completely changed things, turned things around. but now moving forward without him, obviously he was a massive, massive part. He pretty much led the team. The past to all these finals. You know what I mean? He scored the most goals for the team. He was getting involved, getting assists. So he he more or less helped carry them to these finals and trophies. But now, without him, how does Argentina look? Do they still compete? Do they still make finals? Are they still as dangerous as they've been in these past previously years? Or is this now a moment of complete, like just a rebuild? Because now Scaloni. You know, arguably he's got to actually start coaching now. You know what I mean? Like you can't just say, okay, well, we got Messi, just get the ball to Messi and like just work your magic type thing. He's got to actually like create a team now that can go win without one of the greatest players to ever do it. So how do you think Argentina's gonna look now moving forward in these upcoming tournaments? The Copa America would be next, right? I mean, how do you think they're gonna they're gonna do the next two, four years to leading up to this next World Cup?

Marco: I mean you're right. Last World Cup and what I mean by last, I mean the one previous to this one, relied heavily

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: on Messi and the Messi's hand to win it. This one relied heavily on Messi, although we had some very good showings from the rest of the guys, Enzo Martinez and company. But Anto Argentina is still gonna compete. They still have the quality of players. they they still have homegrown players who there are developing, right? Argentina's always in the mix. most of the players play in the best leagues. but what I will say is you won't be able to maybe Lottoro Martinez is gonna get you a game winner at the end of day, but in in one of those nitty gritty games, but to your point, Lionel Messi is not gonna be able to there to spark that magic 'cause what do they like to say these past ten years? he walks a lot. But

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: I don't care if he walks a lot, he's making shit happen when he starts running. So

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: they they're not gonna have that anymore. To where to your point they can just rely on him. So What I will say is they will compete. I don't think Argentina's ever gonna be rebuilding unless they just go through a stretch where they're terrible.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: but they're still gonna be able to compete. We're gonna still see on the although not champion er every so often with in the common world, but at least in those quarterfinals, semifinals, type games, because it's the end of an era, so

Project 90 Soccer: They still got it.

Marco: yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. They still got some quality. And you know, speaking of like who's going to replace Messi, there's no replacement for Messi. Like there's this is not even a question. So but who's going to be kind of slotted into that role? A lot of people are saying it's going to be Nico Paws. good player, great player, right? Young player, super talented player. Is he gonna produce like Messi did? Is he going to impact the team like Messi did? I'd have to say no, obviously, right? It's Messi, of course. But I mean, if you're going to have to put someone in because Messi's retiring, Nico Paz is not a bad option. they still do have fairly young players, right? Local Martinez is like 30 years old. I think he's 29 right now. So he's got another World Cup in him, I'd imagine. And he comes on as that super sub, gets those last minute winners. Enzo Fernandez, a lot of the players are still relatively young. But moving past this cycle of this 2030 World Cup. Is when Argentina's really gonna look different, I think. and I just hope they don't become the team that goes on this massive down, downhill run, right? Where now all they do is reflect back to when we had Messi, when we were 2022, 2026, all these years,

Marco: Which can happen.

Project 90 Soccer: which can happen, man. We see it happen all the time. We see teams always talking about when they were good, and it's like it just doesn't, it doesn't matter going forward anymore. So we'll hope Leonel Scalini Scalone can still keep them in winning in their winning ways. But man, Lionel Messi, it's kind of crazy. It's like you we've been watching them for so long, it's kind of surreal that it's actually like that's it. It's over. It's pretty bittersweet, right? To have been able to witness it, but now it's the end. It's over. No more games with Messi, no more World Cups, no more anything on the international stage. yeah, man.

Marco: Do you ever see him becoming a coach? Do you think he has that that

Project 90 Soccer: Mm.

Marco: temperament and the personality to lead in a different way?

Project 90 Soccer: You know, it's from what you see in the media, he doesn't seem like that guy. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy that's gonna rally a team, get out there, you know, and and the whole lifestyle of a manager as well. I feel like Messi's just gonna retire and just like be a family man. Like that's what I think Messi's gonna end up doing. And of course, his his kids are playing now, and there's a lot of hype about them as well, which is gonna come with just the name, essentially. But apparently they're pretty good, right? So you never know, you might see another Messi. In an Argentina shirt might not be the same caliber as their dad, right? Leo Messi, but one of these days you might have another Messi. And in terms of management, though, if he ever does manage, I think he'd probably go for the national team. I don't know if I could see him being a club manager. I feel like he's a very loyal to his club kind of guy. I feel like he'd want to maybe, if it's not like Barcelona or it's not Argentina. I just I don't see him doing it. I don't know if he's got the personality to sort of manage Yeah.

Marco: I don't I don't see him managing. I mean he already purchased a club, a club I think in the League Two or yeah, second division.

Project 90 Soccer: In Spain, right?

Marco: Yeah, Spain. So he's an owner type guy. All the greats are the greats. Outside of the older school that always went into coaching, like Johan

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Grife and stuff like that. he's a he's a businessman. He's gonna own teams. I mean Ronaldo, he's owning teams. all these

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: guys are at that level and may Not just life changing money, but like

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: whatever you want to call type type of money, where they just

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: they're never gonna run out for generations to come. They they they they they got the screw to to to purchase these teams or or get these type of investments. So that's what I see him doing. continue

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: to having his business hat on and and enjoying his fam because this guy was away for so long. And although 'cause he his career went pretty deep deep into his career, everything that makes sense. he's still not not an old guy, so he's able to

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: look forward and enjoy everything he's he's accomplished.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, honestly, he's he's currently at Miami, right? Which their owner, David Beckham, is quite the businessman. and in my opinion, Messi and Beckham have this relationship now. And I see Messi sort of going down the road of like David Beckham, in a sense, being a business mentor, almost in a way, where David Beckham's done some crazy shit, right? He's created clubs, he's he's invested, he's he's a multi millionaire. I don't know if he's a billionaire, but got a lot of money, he's done a lot of good business. So I Messi kind of going down that route, using his image, using his just fame, right? He's known all around the world. So I'd imagine hit he's gonna he's gonna make some big investments. He's gonna stay out of the spotlight though, and he's just gonna become an ultra wealthy, successful businessman after his career's over. And of course, support his kids, keep on playing. I think, I think I would imagine at least one of them goes professional, right, to some degree. if not all three of them. And you never know, man, in the future. You might see Cristiano Jr. versus Messi, right? You might see the rivalry again. Might not be the same, but you might see it again.

Marco: You want to see it.

Project 90 Soccer: I don't want to see it. Just let it go for now. Just let it go. Let it be.

Marco: Just just let it go, let it be. Anto, I'm not a big fan. I'm not a big fan of all these great players and then their sons end up playing because it's like you gotta live

Project 90 Soccer: Tough.

Marco: up you gotta live up to that. I mean, you see l Bronny Jr. and LeBron James, right?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: and then all the Sidon kids. And they're playing

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: in this in the second division. I mean, you saw the goalkeeper

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: with during the World Cup World Cup. it's it's crazy, man. Just just let it be. But hey

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, there's a lot of

Marco: You can't you can't knock right for for wanting to live up to the name and also touch the world stage.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yep. Well, Marco, look, quick, short, and sweet. Just wanted to shout out Lionel Messi ending his Argentina career. legendary, like we've all like we've just been saying for the past twenty minutes now. Absolutely legendary. Do you have any last words for the fans for the Project 90 fam before we sign off, Marco?

Marco: Mi gente de Argentina, I don't have an Argentina jersey. I never will. Ever. But I try to do you guys proud with these colors. Right. So shout out to you guys. You guys had one of the greats, if not the great, in the history of all of football, football, and for more years to come. And just do me a favor, like, subscribe, give us a follow. We're loving all the spicy comments, all

Project 90 Soccer: Yes.

Marco: the positive comments. All the subscribers that that that we we we've seen this past week really Yeah

Project 90 Soccer: Been porn in, yeah.

Marco: love y'all we're reading everything like I said Anto's comments and everything and I just want to remind you guys we're not analysts we're not professionals

Project 90 Soccer: Well.

Marco: we're just here talking about the game enjoying the conversation about the game and then just enjoying the game. So I'm gonna leave you guys with that.

Project 90 Soccer: Marco, that was beautifully said. We are not experts. Don't get it twisted. Project90Soccer.com. Find the links to our Spotify, Apple. If you're on YouTube, like, subscribe, comment, turn on the bell. Tell your friends, tell your mom, tell your dad, tell your siblings, tell everybody you know. Till the next episode. This has been Project 90. Peace.

Marco: Merci.