RIO DE JANEIRO.- Rafael Yen He is a child of just 8 years old and already lives football passionately like everyone else in Brazil. But he has a dilemma that not even his father can solve.
Will Rafael go with the Argentina to the stadium Maracana of Rio de Janeiro Tuesday to see Lionel Messihis favorite player, when the world champions face Brazil in the playoffs world?
“I told him to think about it, it’s like wearing the team’s shirt. Vasco da Gama to a game of Flamengo“, said Miguel Yen, the boy’s father when alluding to one of the bitterest rivalries in Brazilian football. “He has left the shirt Brazilso I don’t know what it will be like when I get back from school.”
Rafael adores Messi so much that he often sleeps in the Albiceleste jacket. He also got a t-shirt from Inter Miami after the player eight times awarded the Golden Ball signed with the club MLS. He begged his father to take him to Maracana for what could be his idol’s last game in the iconic stadium.
Twisters like Rafael don’t want Brazil lose to Argentinabut they long to see the star dribble, shoot and maybe score a goal.
Many Brazilians have encouraged Messi for years, not only for his great individual quality on the field, but for the respect he has expressed for the five-time world champions. While Messi’s teammates on the Argentine team chanted an anti-Brazil in the locker room Maracana after winning the America Cup 2021, Messi was caught asking them to stop. He is also a good friend of Neymar, has to Ronaldo as one of his models and always treated with courtesy Pele.
In return, many Brazilians celebrated enthusiastically when Argentina won her third star as world champion in Tastesomething inconceivable when the controversial Diego Maradona He was the star of the albiceleste.
Looking forward to Messi:
Messi has not indicated when he will hang up his boots, saying that he wants to enjoy and continue playing as a world champion. It is expected that he will contest the America Cup next year in USA looking to revalidate the title, but there is uncertainty about whether he will try to win a second World Cup at 39 years old.
Some Brazilian cigar rollers among the 69,000 spectators at the Maracana They will be happy if Messi scores his first goal against Brazil in a World Cup qualifying match, one of the few things he still needs to achieve (he has five in friendlies). Brazil He has never lost at home.
“I will be happy with a draw if Messi scores a goal“, said William Santosa 14-year-old Brazilian on the outskirts of Maracana the day before the game. “I play with him in video games, I don’t miss his games. I’m small like him. My friends say this is the last chance to see him in Brazil and this is my Christmas gift. It cost me 300 Brazilian reals ($40).”
FOUNTAIN: AP
