I look at Messi, and he makes me laugh. A beautiful footballer who is still like a kid. A world superstar, but still a kid. Innocent, you know. He just plays.
Johan Cruyff
Point:
The Ringer – Jordan Ritter Conn – Lionel Messi Was Dead. Then He Wasn’t.
Counterpoint:
“There seem to be pressures from the Argentina side on this outcome,” he said. “We were objecting to the selection of the referee because of the French situation [Argentina beat France in the 2022 World Cup final], but everybody has to suffer at some point, and we suffered.
“We haven’t seen respect or fair play. A penalty was ruled out [an alleged foul on Mo Salah]. It was not even checked by the VAR, and our second goal was remarkably, for whatever reason, disallowed.
“I want to put it in beautiful words and say, ‘Hard luck,’ but we have been treated unfairly and it has been an injustice,” he said.
ESPN – Matt Ogden – Egypt boss bemoans ‘injustice’ after loss to Argentina at World Cup
New York Times – Sam Anderson – The Perishable, Never-Ending Genius of Lionel Messi
Phil M. Stockmen