‘The bond we have is beautiful’: Lionel Messi pays tribute to Argentina fans

03-Dec-2022 23:37:59 | Guardian

Nation’s supporters have packed stadiums during World Cup
Messi: ‘It’s unbelievable how they live every single match’

Lionel Messi hailed the “beautiful” bond between Argentina’s players and fans after marking his 1,000th professional appearance with a peerless performance, which included a sublimely taken first goal, in the nervy win over Australia.

Argentina’s fixtures have resembled home matches in Qatar, their fans turning stadiums into pulsating cathedrals that inevitably break into full choral worship of Messi. But the entire team was serenaded long after full time even after a stop‑start performance, and Messi highlighted the power of a relationship that has appeared to grow with each game in this tournament.