The Guardian's glowing praise for Messi after Argentina's win over England: 'Sporting genius'

The prestigious British publication The Guardian offered effusive praise for Lionel Messi's performance following Argentina's World Cup victory over England. While many British newspapers focused on criticism of their own coach and team, The Guardian chose to celebrate Messi's brilliance.

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Messi improves every other player on his team.

Journalist Barney Ronay highlighted Messi's decisive influence on the field, stating, "Messi improves every other player on his team." The article emphasized the Argentine star's ability to tilt the balance of the game, noting that his presence provides a fundamental, yet unattainable, competitive advantage. "Messi has always had a key advantage over any other player: playing with Messi in every game," Ronay wrote.

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Messi has always had a key advantage over any other player: playing with Messi in every game.

The report described how England "cowered before the occasion" while Messi began to "walk the pitch, seeking spaces and making the objects around him spin in his favor." The Guardian detailed the turning point in the match, when, with the score tied 1-1 in the 91st minute, Messi's precise assist set up Lautaro Martínez for the winning goal. Ronay vividly described the moment, comparing Messi's calm and patient delivery to explaining a mathematical problem, with the ball seeming to hang in the air before finding its target.

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But it was the change that really defeated them, one of those moments when the clock starts to rewind, the sky darkens, the cow really does seem to have jumped over the moon, and the energy inside the stadium suddenly spins entirely around that dour, lanky figure in dark blue, who from a walking start had begun to do strange and painful things, to close the spaces, to make the objects around him spin in his favor. And also feeling the lack of resistance in the other direction. Suddenly, everyone there was in Messi’s space.

According to The Guardian's analysis, this moment of "sporting genius" from Messi completely overshadowed England's tactical approach, securing Argentina's 2-1 comeback victory. The publication framed the win as a testament to Messi's unparalleled ability to dictate the flow and outcome of critical matches.

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The cross with his right foot was perfect, with exquisite precision, and it went to the only logical zone, as if someone were calmly and patiently explaining a mathematical problem. For a moment, the ball seemed to hang in the air, a beautiful soft white sphere, as the day stretched out and everyone in the stadium became Messi, witnessing the moment before it happened.