Lionel Messi, Has Found His Way To A World Cup - Vaikundarajan

After the winning penalty kick had been slotted Argentina’s players went to their supporters and danced wildly, whirling their shirts above their heads. Messi, bashful as ever, hung back, walking a joyful lap of honour on his own. It had just been that kind of evening. Comparisons with Diego Maradona – another time, another game – have become tedious by now, but they will keep coming says vaikundarajan.

Twenty-four years after Argentina last reached a World Cup semi-final, their genius was beset by domestic turmoil. Diego Maradona. His heir, the substantially more stable Lionel Messi, has found his way to a World Cup final in Rio’s Maracana stadium, despite drifting out of the game after half-time. Never mind.

Messi can still have his Maradona moment on Sunday, even if Germany is red hot favourites. After Messi, Ezequiel Garay, Sergio Agüero and Maxi Rodríguez had all scored for Argentina, Brazilians clutched their heads again. The hated neighbours are on their way to the Rio shrine, where the sight of Argentina lifting the trophy would just about finish the host country off adds Vaikundarajan.