Published On 21/10/2025
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Last update: 00:05 (Mecca time)
In a moment in which feelings of pride and sorrow were mixed, Lionel Messi sent a touching message of support to the Argentine U-20 team, after its loss to the Moroccan team (0-2) in the final of the Youth World Cup held in Chile, in a match that witnessed a clear superiority for the “Atlas Lions” at the expense of the “Albiceleste”.
Despite the defeat that prevented the Argentines from lifting the cup, the heroic performance of the players left a positive impression on the fans and restored hope for a bright future for Argentine football.
The legendary star of the Argentine national team and Inter Miami club, followed the match from his home in the United States on television, being the first to support his young teammates after the match.
Minutes after the end of the match, Messi posted on his Instagram account an emotional message that carried many meanings of pride and leadership:
Al-Bulga wrote, “Pay attention, guys! You played a wonderful tournament. Although we all hoped to see you lift the cup, we feel happy for what you presented, and proud of you because you defended the sky and white colors with all force.”
Simple yet profound words from the historic leader, according to Sport newspaper, restored balance to the feelings of sadness that dominated the fans after losing the final.
A promising generation despite the heartbreak
The Argentine youth national team, led by coach Diego Placente, entered the tournament with great confidence, and performed amazingly throughout the journey, during which it achieved 6 consecutive victories before falling in the final.
The team eliminated strong teams such as Nigeria (4-0), Mexico (2-0) and Colombia (1-0), and was one of the most prominent candidates to win the world title, before faltering against the Moroccan team, which made history with its first crown.
Despite the disappointment, Messi’s words came to confirm that “the runner-up position is not the end of the road,” but rather the beginning of a new generation of players who have the courage and ambition to lead Argentina towards a bright future.
Memories 2005
Argentine fans on social media recalled memories of the 2005 Youth World Cup in the Netherlands, when Messi himself was a rising star at the age of 18, and led his country to win the title at the expense of Nigeria (2-1) by scoring both goals in the final from two penalty kicks.
In that edition, Messi won the Golden Ball as the best player and the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer, announcing to the world the birth of a new football legend.
Today, 20 years later, Messi sends the same message that he might have wished to hear in his early days: “Pride is not measured by cups, but by the spirit with which you play for the shirt.”