It is a viral video that seduced the internets. There is enough: in a hilarious clip taken from GTA, we see Lionel Messi evolving in the world of the legendary video game. He is followed, like a shadow, by Rodrigo de Paul. Someone hustle the Pulga? DePaul intervenes. The star hits a lamppost? The midfielder of Atlético knocks him out with a car before taking his friend for a ride.
In every cartoon there is a small grain of truth. If the video was so successful, it’s because the Albiceleste troupe is made up of grognards who are supposed to have accompanied Messi on his last big trip. They have talent, of course, but above all “huevos” able to respect the Argentine DNA. Their mission is clear: do everything to keep Argentina alive, do everything to put Messi in the best conditions, do everything so that he finally touches the Grail. They don’t all have the same role but these warriors have only one obsession. It concerns the chief and his dreams of eternity.
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Leandro Paredes, Nicolas Otamendi and Rodrigo de Paul: Lionel Messi’s henchmen
Credit: Quentin Guichard
Emiliano Martinez
Its World : 5 matches, 480 minutes of play
He is the other most decisive player in this Albiceleste. The contribution of “Dibu”, his nickname, is not calculated in goals but in precious parades. Holder at all World Cup matches, he had been almost traumatized by this opening match against Saudi Arabia, to the point of opening up to his psychologist, a practice widely used in the country. Since then, he hasn’t let anything pass.
He was impeccable at first to sign the parade he needed against Australia, after the end of added time (2-1). But the most important thing was yet to come: his parries in penalty shootouts. Already brilliant in the exercise in Copa America last year, the doorman of Aston Villa diverts the attempts of Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis before offering his so characteristic dance steps. The first to come and congratulate him after qualifying for Albiceleste? Messi, obviously, who knows what he owes him.
His history : late hatching
At 30, “Dibu” Martinez has only 25 caps. Blame it on a late outbreak, hampered by the desires of Arsenal. Spotted by the London club at the age of 17, he joined the Gunners in 2012. Walked by loans, called back to make the number, the Argentinian does not take off until 2020, joining Aston Villa. England then discovered this warm-blooded and instinctive goalkeeper and the Villans fell in love with him after a first season in which he kept his clean sheet 15 times (!) out of 38 matches. With selection, the story is similar. Propelled holder for the Copa America, he becomes the indisputable position during a competition that he flies over.
The declared : allegiance to the chief
Leo Messi represents 99.9% of this team. We are the remaining 0.1% and we must try to help him when necessary.
Nicolas Otamendi
Its World : 5 matches, 480 minutes of play
One of the most dominant central defenders of this World Cup and the competition is tough. Intractable in the duel, serene in his interventions and intelligently placed, the Benfica player continued on his excellent momentum with the Eagles. Club captain, he is unofficially in this Albiceleste, to reframe everyone’s positions, motivate the troops or even play the nanny when it’s time to turn off the TV in front of which Paul usually falls asleep. If a face of the Argentine “garra” was needed, he would be the chosen one.
His history : The easy culprit
At 34, Otamendi is playing his third World Cup. The other two left traces. In 2010, he was bombarded by Diego Maradona in the right-back position and completely took the water against Germany in the quarter-finals (0-4). Pointed out by the national media, he missed the train of 2014 to finally return to favor in 2015.
But, in 2018, it symbolizes an Albiceleste carried away by the Mbappé whirlwind. In a country nostalgic for Roberto Ayala, long considered the last great Argentinian central, Otamendi is no longer one to take offense. But his reaction to the Netherlands pretty much summed up his ‘Argentinianity’.
The declared : to Messi, on Instagram
You will never walk alone my brother
“What differs from the last Worlds is that Messi completely assumes the pressure”
Rodrigo dePaul
Its World : 5 matches, 426 minutes of play
Not as bright as expected. Decisive in the quest for the 2021 Copa America, de Paul started his World Cup upside down, with an offensive contribution that was too limited and a questionable slaughter. But since the incorporation of Enzo Fernandez in the midfield, we find the watchdog of this Albiceleste, the one who considers the environment as a battlefield where all shots are allowed. Without Giovani Lo Celso, he is also one of Messi’s privileged relays. The boorish game of this team finally resembles him: industrious, hardworking and muscular.
His history : Basic man of Scaloni
The declared : under the orders of the captain
Messi? You would go to war for him if he asked you to.
Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul, stunned against Saudi Arabia
Credit: Getty Images
Leandro Paredes
Its World : 3 matches, 144 minutes of play
Holder for the first meeting against Saudi Arabia, the Juventus player was one of the victims of this inaugural earthquake. Paredes did not play against Mexico on Matchday 2, or against Australia in the Round of 16. On the other hand, he came into play against Poland and then against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. Facing the Oranje, the former Parisian showed an excessive, almost caricatural grinta, which earned him a yellow card but which perfectly summed up his role within the Albiceleste. The type of soldier needed to cover artists. And in this case, the artist with a capital A.
His history : A crumbled status
Definitely installed in the eleven at the end of a 2018 World Cup which he had not played, Paredes had acquired an indestructible status at the time of the 2019 Copa America and missed three small qualifying matches for the Qatari World Cup. He played a little less during the Copa America won in 2021, until this World Cup in which he quickly inherited a substitute role. The fault of a too fair physical condition. He remains a privileged bodyguard of Lionel Messi, and an important pawn of Argentina. Like what he regularly experiences in his various clubs: rarely indisputable, but always used.
The declared : about a PSG – Barça, when Messi was still officiating in Catalonia
He got angry because I made a comment to my teammates and he heard me, and it got heated. He was really hot. He insulted me, seriously. I wanted to kill myself, I wanted to go home. Afterwards, I saw him in the national team and he acted like nothing had happened. He showed me what he is as a person. The relationship continued as before.
Leandro Paredes set fire to the fire in the quarter-final between Argentina and the Netherlands
Credit: Getty Images
Julian Alvarez
Its World : 5 matches, 289 minutes played, 2 goals
He lived a trajectory opposite to that of Leandro Paredes: first replacing in the first two matches, the Manchester City striker was successfully established against Poland, with a goal in the key. Then he did it again against Australia in the eighth, before going silent in the quarter. The former River Plate player took advantage of Lautaro Martinez’s inefficiency to establish himself as Lionel Messi’s partner in attack.
Far from being just a finisher, he frees up spaces à la Pulga, and makes the defensive efforts from which the Argentine star is exempt. Not the bloodiest warrior but one of the most valuable. It is perhaps no coincidence that Messi opened the scoring against Mexico, and thus launched the Argentinian World Cup for good, a minute after Alvarez entered the lawn…
His history : the ascent
Few in the general public knew who Julian Alvarez was before last August. Bought by Manchester City a year ago, left on loan at River Plate until the end of last season, the 22-year-old striker was retained by Pep Guardiola for this new exercise. He quickly scored his first goals with the Citizens to assert himself as an understudy of choice for Erling Haaland. International since June 2021, he already has five goals in 17 caps and has gained playing time under Lionel Scaloni since the start of the year. He is not quite the striker of the present in Manchester yet. But in selection, it takes the path.
The declared : the young padawan
You always learn just by watching him, although it’s hard to copy what he does. We all know what he’s done over the years, he’s obviously the best player in the world. I am lucky to be able to share a pitch with him and now I have the chance to play alongside him
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