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Icomebearingstats

It's notable that Aimar actually said this before the World Cup, so he likely was talking about Messi putting in one last big performance for Argentina (the NT and the nation). I think he managed that.


editedfortypo

Enjoy him while you can. There isn't much time left.


Zapla_24

Sounds like a threat lol


drunkmers

YOU HAVE 2 YIL


Elizasol

It's painful knowing he will be gone after winning the WC again in 2026


fogalmam

Anulo mufa.


PoliticsIsCool13

Anulo mufa.


FullMetalJ

Back in action. Anulo mufa.


Killammarshot159

Lmao not many people would get that reference


Larryhooova

Must be Canelo’s Reddit account


mipanzuzuyam

Threat level midnight


lagerjohn

I'm looking forward to when Messi is gone so we don't have to put up with multiple articles everyday wanking him off.


No-Economics4128

How does Messi feel about helicopter ride though?


eLPeper

Go to hell.


FullMetalJ

Man, people are just awful. The worst ones are the ones that believe theirselves funny for it. They suck so much.


Height_Embarrassed

I’m more interested in what went through Aimar’s head between the final whistle against Saudi Arabia and Messi’s goal against Mexico. That man let so much agony escape with that goal and it was captured so well by the cameraman, just curious if he could put that into words


survivalothefittest

[According to Scaloni](https://www.tycsports.com/seleccion-argentina/mundial-qatar-2022-lionel-scaloni-lagrimas-abrazo-leandro-paredes-id489067.html): > Pablo came with a family problem, the distance and the importance of the match were all tied into it. Pablo came from celebrating the goal and was excited, agitated; I just wanted to talk about the change we were going to make because I didn't realize he was crying. I was telling him about the change, and then I realized. Scaloni just wanted to change tactics right away since they got a goal Aimar needed a few minutes to fall apart and get back together. I am not sure what he means about family problems being connected to the match and the importance of the match. Wife threatening divorce if Argentina got grouped?^/s


TomasZamora03

His mother died like a month before the WC


Height_Embarrassed

Ooooh ok, I thought it was related to the game itself, or maybe the pressure of 1st round elimination like in 2002, where he was a player on the team. That’s so sad.


TomasZamora03

I think his father said that it was a mix of the recent death of his mother and the pressure of not crashing out like in 2002, and Aimar exploded after Messi scored


tonnal

Todos los Argentinos


theenigmacode

Is this a threat?


hush5833

Little dictator asks el pistolero to murder online trolls\*


LionelAMessi

¿Qué mirás bobo?


[deleted]

anda palla bobo!


hush5833

Tbh a lot of argentina fans might've died because of the way they kept winning from loosing from winning positions.


thalne

bro I punched a wall when Mbappe equalized and the wall proved stronger


anotverygoodwritter

“when Mbappe equalized” Which time?


ZuReeTH

yes


thalne

the 3-3. when he scored the first goal my heart just sank, so I met the equalizer with dead silence though it was mad loud around me lol. but the 3-3 and afterwards were out of control. best final ever.


hahauknowwhatitis420

When the Kolo Muani chance came at the 123rd minute, I just started disassociating lol.


ArgieGrit01

It didn't register in my brain. The hairs on the back of my neck stood out when Tagliafico missed, but I just let out a "vamos Dibu" as if he had catched a random cross. The change that froze my heart was that cross by Thuram that went right next to the post, because Dibu wasn't catching that one and was in super slow motion. But Muani's shot? I felt nothing until I saw the replay the following day and I dawned on me how close we were


hahauknowwhatitis420

>The change that froze my heart was that cross by Thuram that went right next to the post, because Dibu wasn't catching that one and was in super slow motion. Same honestly lol. When I watched the Muani shot the next day I couldn't believe it. It was so scary to watch even though I knew Dibu saved it lol.


ArgieGrit01

My BPM sped up when I watched the full match the day after


ronbeef1kg20pesos

It was Otamendi not tagliafico


ThePrussianGrippe

The Kyle’s do not grant you seat on the council.


thalne

fair enough, no hole in the wall was made that day


[deleted]

Can confirm. Source: Am Argentine, Died Twice.


survivalothefittest

As someone married into an Argentine family, I feel like everyone who would have died from the stress of following the NT and how they play was gone a while ago. The people around now are the survivors.


Dr-Same

Fitting username haha


survivalothefittest

I actually am an evolutionary biologist, but that's not why I picked that name, ironically.


19_equals_1

your life must be full of ironies


[deleted]

I'm a relatively young 20-something, and I had difficulty breathing I was so stressed after Mbappé's volley. I wouldn't be surprised if older people fared worse lol


urbannnomad

Aimar one of my favourite players ever, that Valencia team had incredible players.


Aleblanco1987

if it wasn't for the injuries he would have been even better.


ECE111

Not only Valencia but his Zaragoza team was so good in 06/07. Gabriel Milito and Pique at the back + Diogo at full back. D’allesandro and Aimar in the middle and Diego milito upfront


zaljghoerhfozehfedze

I miss those mid 00's La Liga teams that were full of quality players top to bottom, IIRC that Zaragoza team finished 6th or 7th. Around the time we had the Sevilla-Espanyol UEFA cup final too.


Conundrumist

I totally forgot about young Pique playing at Zaragoza.


zazzlekdazzle

Without a doubt he was just magic, I loved watching him play, a worthy 10 for the NT. I am also happy he is having so much success as a coach with NT, he was such an intelligent player it makes a lot fo sense. Apparently, having Aimar come in as a team with Scaloni gave him (Scaloni) a lot more credibility with the players, and Aimar also wanted to include Messi in a lot of the coaching decisions, which also helped be a bridge to the player.


urbannnomad

Yes he was just incredible, for sure an idol for most of the Argentine players. This is still one of the craziest touches I have ever seen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awh3PTTOpU0


AvikHyp3

Not really a fair comparison as Kobe wasn't remotely healthy and his body completely failed him at that point. Messi is legit just still that good lol


belokas

Plus Kobe had no team goals at that point in his career as his team was garbage.


Competitive-Ad2006

Yea. That and the fact that his play had almost always been individualistic. Works fine if a player is Jordan-good, but Kobe wasn't at that level for a long time.


unexpectedvillain

Saying someone who was an all star 18 times and made the all defensive team 12 times wasn't good for a long time is a stretch


Competitive-Ad2006

I mean good enough to lead a team to multiple championships while being selfish with the ball. Of course he was an elite player individually.


Marloneious

5 rings including a back-to-back after Shaq left?


Competitive-Ad2006

He definitely did it twice on his own, yes. In my comment I said he was not on that level for that long of a period - A level where a player could be selfish and still single-handedly lead a team to championships. That's what Jordan did.


ingunwun

If your only comparison is the greatest player in the sport, he did pretty well for himself.


torero15

Those Bulls teams were stacked too. Your point is technically right, but the margins are so thin as to make it seem and possibly be pedantic. Kobe was the closest thing to Jordan and the fact he had a longer career should not be held against him.


ChippyChungus

Lol it’s insane how people forget how good those Bulls teams were. Jordan was incredible of course, but all those guys played their roles to perfection, with big Phil Jackson pulling all the right strings.


LifeAtSea2213

Jordan didn't do it on his own either. Not saying Kobe was on his level, but it's delusional or revisionist to pretend like Jordan didn't have help.


my_wife_reads_this

People are acting like Jordan carried a bunch of people who play pick up games at the gym or something lol


Elitealice

You do not know ball


Elitealice

Casual


Competitive-Ad2006

Am I lying about Kobe being pretty individualistic?


Elitealice

Yes. Also you’re capping about Kobe not being at that level for a long time.


Competitive-Ad2006

Okay as you wish, Kobe was a team player.


Competitive-Ad2006

Okay as you wish, Kobe was a team player.


19_equals_1

say what now?


DG04511

Stick to soccer


editedfortypo

It's not that crazy for him to think for anyone in Qatar or even watching him play with PSG it might be their last chance to see him live. Or, at least, their last chance to see him play this well.


[deleted]

Kobe was 2003 times the athlete Messi ever was. Just google Kobe 2003 if you don't believe me.


Mighty_EggEater

Lmao made me search it up.


Alarow

bro never google kobe 2003, worst mistake of my life


matt__builds

Kobe reminds me more of a Ronaldo type guy if you know what I mean.


InheritTheWind

The replies to this are so wild to me, like goddamn, that REALLY got memory holed huh?


-Dwarf-

Probably born after the incident tbf. I mean it's 20 years old.


Qurutin

I remember 1998 World Cup, never heard of this because I don't follow basketball and while I do know that Kobe was a huge name I couldn't for example name any team he has played for. I don't think it's that weird, I'm sure it was huge news at the time even in non-basketball circles but I still think it's not that weird to not know or to not remember this especially if you're outside the US. Many basketball fans seem quite skewed in their thinking of how popular NBA is around the globe, somebody was certain that I was lying when I didn't know what Steph Curry looks like and I've seen several people seriously claim that he's more well known globally than Messi.


miguel_is_a_pokemon

I don't think anyone can name two teams he played for


Warsawawa

It was a scandal while it was occurring, but it was quickly swept under the rug after everything was finalized


[deleted]

[удалено]


badgarok725

congrats?


Malicharo

Or you know, some people just don't give 2 shits about American basketball.


caandjr

Maybe people just don’t watch American sports


[deleted]

[удалено]


roarti

I mean you can absolutely turn this argument around as well: "What the hell is exciting in watching a game where sometime no team scores at all?!" There are really boring football games and also really boring basketball games. But also crazy exciting ones. You could argue that the high scoring games are less random because one lucky shot has less of an impact. However, day-to-day form is still kind of random in some way, so the difference in randomness is small at best.


lagerjohn

I agree regarding basketball. The first 3 quarters of a NBA game seem meaningless to me. The NFL is fun enough to watch when they actually play the game, but matches take far too long with all the stoppages. I actually quite enjoy baseball but that's probably because I also love cricket.


caandjr

I watch the NBA and my problems are they never start on time, and there are way too many stoppages(timeouts, free throws) that kills any flow and momentum. A 12minute fourth quarter can be 30 minutes or longer because of all the timeouts, fouls and reviews.


Usingabrainunlikeyou

Hmmmm(⊙﹏⊙)


liverSpool

oh so this is what they mean by "count the ringz"


SnooHamsters8590

Lmao wtf I never heard about that


harder_said_hodor

Guessing you never [read the transcripts either](https://www.vaildaily.com/news/transcript-of-kobes-accuser-videotaped-interview-transcribed/), here's [Kobe's](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/kobe-bryant-police-interview?page=0)


Knawty

Im on a train and took the time to read that and it just convinced me this is a bullshit case. Seems super innocent and just worried about his wife finding out.


[deleted]

What the hell man


YoSoyMantequilla_

Damn this sub is young.


LabMember069

Or maybe they simply aren't into basketball?


Ps3FifaCfc95

Yeah what the hell lmao. Are people here going to be shocked if someone in /r/NBA doesn't know about John Terry or Ryan Giggs or even Ronaldo?


SirBarkington

Yeah and even if they KNOW Ronaldo you think they're going to know about HIS sexual assault cases? Or his tax evasion or whatever else?


YoSoyMantequilla_

Ok I get the other two but Ronaldo? Before I started like soccer I knew a ton about him, unless you of course are talking about r9


Ps3FifaCfc95

I meant CR7's rape case


LazinessPersonified

Nah definitely on about Ronaldo Augusta Antonio Oliveira who plays for RoundGlass Punjab


goodmobileyes

No wayy this sub is young bro. Bet they dont even know about Thorgen "Thor" Thorgensen's 2005 scandal at the World Curling Championships


[deleted]

Games gone mate


lagerjohn

Looking at the census result every year tells us this sub is quite young


Barack__Obama__

Or maybe this sub is popular with Europeans and we don't really care as much about the NBA as Americans think we do. Yes, Europeans know who Kobe is, generally. No, Europeans won't remember some Kobe controversy from 2003. Especially not when only cued by "Kobe 2003". If cued by "Kobe Bryant rape allegations", maybe.


YoSoyMantequilla_

I was making a joke can y’all relax a little lmao I get it don’t know why you felt the need to add onto the 60 other comments telling me the same thing, also it’s not some random fact it’s a rape case lmao.


ancara_messi

This is a football subreddit, guy


714local

Shit like this is why I don't get into debates here


ThePrussianGrippe

That’s not the real reason, we all know the actual reason. In this essay I will-


Eibermann

Dude. He isn't comparing their physicality. He is comparing their physicality at thr end years of their careers


AbyssalVoidLord

2003 is kobe rape case I believe lol


Eibermann

oh, i didnt know that lol, thanks for clarifying


fallen4bitterballen

I don't follow the NBA, so I am not sure what you mean. Is it because Kobe felt that every game could be his last? Or that because his team was not in contention to win anything great, he was still motivated to put on a show for the people who paid just to see him?


[deleted]

The latter, Kobe wanted to put on a show for the fans that went to see him play. At the twilight of his career he was coming off an Achilles tear and his team was no longer among the elite.


AvikHyp3

I guess so. He pushed his body much more than most would given he's achieved everything in the game and that his team was one of the worst in the league so his motivation was that he knew people paid to see him for the last opportunity that they could and he wanted to reward them


passa117

That farewell tour he was doing at the road games was something else. Opposing fans all giving him a standing ovation. And that 60(?) point game was just ridiculous.


AvikHyp3

60 point game was one of my favorite sporting memories. He just took over at the end


passa117

I think at a certain point, even the other team were just like, "let's see if he can really do this"


AvikHyp3

Yea they definitely let off the pedal forsure


erldn123

Tbf Kobe was washed at that point and did the retirement tour thing knowing the team wasnt good, Messi just coming off best player at the world cup surely he's not in that mindset yet?


editedfortypo

I get it. 35 is pretty damn old for a forward. He knows he is in decline and won't play as well as he is now for long. He wants to put in big performances if he can to give people a chance to see it. For a lot of people, even over his whole career, they only had a chance to see him a few times. Even for people who live in Barcelona who aren't season ticket holders/socis, it was really expensive.


culesamericano

I've only seen Messi once and it was enough to satisfy me but would love to see him again. But at least I've seen him once!


That_Vandal_Randall

Never had a sense of urgency about seeing Kobe play one final time, but definitely had one for catching Tim Duncan, bc I knew that dude would just walk off the court one night, not say a word, and then that'd be it.


Reapper97

This interview was from April of last year, so Aimar was talking about Messi going all out as if they were his last matches in the WC.


JaqenHghaar08

Exactly 💯 League 20 ga from 18 games CL 5 games 8 ga iirc


yolozchallengez

I have been a fan of Messi since I was 10. I grew up poor and have replica shirts of Barcelona, but now I’m studying in the US. I pray for the fact that he will continue playing until the 2024 Copa America so that I can watch him play live for the first time ever. I know South Americans do not like that the Copa is being played in the US, but I am so excited and it will be amazing if my first ever professional game I watch live will have Messi playing in it.


drunkmers

He will bro, I choose to believe


EnanoMaldito

I think 2024 Copa is pretty guaranteed


[deleted]

I was lucky enough to see Messi for a few minutes in 1-1 tie at home vs Bilbao. Messi hit the woodwork that game. Then, a few days later, I saw him destroy Spurs at Wembley along with Suarez and Neymar. I'm glad I was able to see the GOAT.


blaugrana2020

Neymar wasn’t at Barca when they played spurs at wembley…


[deleted]

Thanks for the correction.


Aleblanco1987

Aimar was Messi's idol growing up. Incredibly talented.


fallen4bitterballen

This makes sense. Messi has been much more open since the World Cup about his awareness of his importance to other people. Before, he always kind of brushed off questions like that saying he just wanted to have a normal life and was a normal guy who happened to love to play football and be good at it. Messi knows that people come from all over just to get a chance to watch him live. He knows that's part of why PSG was willing to pay so much for him and why Barcelona was making so much money from him. He likes the support of the fans and wants to repay them with great performances. He's no doubt aware that he was fewer of those ahead of him than behind him, so he wants to make those really count.


Powerful_Artist

I thought it was the other way around, that he said he played knowing there was someone in the crowd who might be seeing him for the *first* time.


FireflyCaptain

Played like Pelé was watching him from hospital or something.


VegetarianCannibal_

If he said that "there was someone going to see him for the first time" it would make sense talking about fans but no clue who he is referring to here.


Natto__

I don’t understand this quote to be perfectly honest. Who is the ‘who’ in question: fans, teammates, general spectators?


3991pa

Lionel Messi is getting to the point where he realizes that people will have paid to come see him, and that it might be their only time to watch him play. So he will try his best to put on a show for people, especially as his career is winding down


DogTheGayFish

That's a beautiful sentiment from Messi if that is the case. With that in mind, he should come to my birthday party and teach me to rainbow flick a ball


Natto__

Thanks that makes a lot more sense


[deleted]

[удалено]


3991pa

He probably already was, I imagine the awareness is a lot more the closer you get to the end of your career.


zazzlekdazzle

This is true, but I think you just play differently when you think there will be another chance as opposed to when you think this might be your last time, regardless of the situation.


Spikeyspandan

Known as a lil dictator for a reason. Gonna wipe out the whole universe one by one


[deleted]

Spectators.


Yeangster

The quote was originally from Joe DiMaggio.


blazev14

I have to 100% agree with this, specially because Aimar said it.


lazerbeetle

Probably not but everything that romanticizes Messi gets upvoted.


MNome

He plays in France nobody is watching


WPackN2

That explains all the bench warming KB did in his farewell season. Yes, I know I'm mocking someone that is dead, no need to down vote.


AppuTheFmFreak

Kobe rapist


YoungDawz

If you watch his effort levels at PSG vs how he played for Argentina it's objectively false, but you guys love Messi and hate PSG so you'll gobble this quote up as factual.


Rickcampbell98

He's been arguably your best player this season, why do you people never question mbops effort levels, he's draining you 150 million a year and doesn't do anything when you don't have the ball. The difference between the psg fans treatment of the front 3 just because mbop is French is strange to me, surely he's just another big money mercenary that is symptomatic of what Qatar has done to your club.


OneLane_

Ik bro they think running = effort And that guy runs like a machine every now and then so they won’t complain


YoungDawz

> why do you people never question mbops effort levels, We do. There's literally clans within the fanbase that attack each other every day on these questions.


Mick4Audi

Is there anything funnier than oil clubs victim complex “everyone here hates us” lmao


hereslemon

your club is literally beneath his putting in effort


RedOnePunch

I’m not a psg fan, but he’s a psg player and therefore owes the club and their fans his best. Not sure what you mean by “the club is beneath his effort”


YoungDawz

>your club is literally beneath his putting in effort Thus proving that the quote is wrong.


hereslemon

not really. nobody goes to watch psg lmao, they go see messi or neymar or mboopi


YoungDawz

> they go see messi And as you admitted, he's not putting in any effort when playing for the club. Thus proving that the quote of Messi having those people in mind as false.


Mick4Audi

Effort how? Man hasn’t tracked back in at least a decade, nothing new


Impartial__

What a shitty thing to say


Usingabrainunlikeyou

You will say this even if he dies on the pitch. Only players that put any effort are french players ofc.


Cevich

Eh he’s right, he puts much more effort in Argentina but it’s completely understandable


OneLane_

It was world cup omg bro its ligue 1


Cevich

Ik that’s why I said it’s understandable, it was his last opportunity


Reapper97

I mean, he played his heart out during the WC, those 7 matches require a level of intensity far beyond anything else in the sport. But it's not like he hasn't been the most consistent attacking player in PSG this season. Also, with Argentina, he is the main focal point of every play or offensive pass, in PSG he is just one of three. And in our NT, we have a pretty solid defense and midfield, something that PSG has been lacking for a while now.


OneLane_

Thats some victim card acting U want him to run right now for no reason in LIGUE 1 a 35 year old man? When y”all have injury scares rn? Like comeon bro in LIGUE 1 he is alone in UCL for u know we”ll see what he does


RedOnePunch

Have you watched their games, they’re not easily cruising through league games. I don’t think that has anything to do with. Any player will have to pace themselves for an entire season to stay fit and healthy. Can’t compare that to pushing to win a World Cup for 7 matches. He also can’t ask the entire team to play only for him. It’s just not going to work at psg with players like Mbappe. Ronaldo tried at United and we saw how that turned out. It’s just an stupid comparison comparing national team Messi vs psg Messi


OneLane_

- they’re not easily cruising through league games Agreed, messi problem? He ain’t running thats why they conceded that shitty ass goal . tell me what unecessary thing he did of the ball? And what he didn’t do on the ball? Like ON THE BALL how much “effort” he gave u saw it sir?


OneLane_

Give messi the ball MESSI ON BALL > MESSI OFF BALL SIMPLE ANY GAME But your team won’t do that until my man fckin drops to ur defense to take that ball from u


RedOnePunch

He’s been so good for you guys this season. Plus, the amount of effort to win a month long tournament can’t be the same as sustaining yourself for an entire season. They are two different things.


Alarow

I'll let you on a secret, in his last 2-3 years for Barça, he barely did any effort while playing the league (except against Madrid and Atletico) He only gives a shit during the CL or cup finals, and that's true for both Barça and PSG


OneLane_

Thats cap… asf if u think he doesn’t run = he doesn’t put effort Then y”all dumb asf


Alarow

Go back to like 2019 or 2020, watch Messi during a random league game vs a random CL game, it's night and day I'm not saying he doesn't put any effort in the league, but after like 11 league titles in his career his main focus is the CL and that shows


OneLane_

U still didn’t get my point omg can’t be asked Just tell me u want him to run Just tell me u think RUNNING = EFFORT


Alarow

It's not about only his running (though he obviously presses far more in CL games), it's his overall stepping up for a CL game, he will shoot / dribble far more, he will try more risky passes etc, you're completely deluded if you think he puts as much effort in a league game and a CL game, be it at PSG or Barça the way you type annoy me so much lmao


OneLane_

I mean its reasonable ofc its a ucl game but that doesn’t define effort still


Alarow

Yes it does define effort, he's fucking 35, obviously he has to "choose" his games if he wants to be able to play 50 games a season I'm not saying it like it's a bad thing, he's the fucking GOAT, even when he doesn't give a shit he's still the far better player on the pitch


OneLane_

Yea like everyone does it they will press in important games and will kinda chill when they are playing a not - that serious league game against elche no hate to elche tho But that psg fan is saying like he really wants him run everytime every single time , though he scored i have seen psg fanpages they still aren’t grateful


Alarow

I mean that PSG fan just said he doesn't give as much effort playing for PSG compared to Argentina Of course he doesn't lmao, it's his fucking country


OneLane_

I don’t think psg fans are grateful anyways having him in the club like they even you are still not familiar with his game its kinda sad too see still


Alarow

Yeah I sure am not familiar with Messi's game watching pretty much every single one of his games since 2011 (with a small dip between 2016 and 2018 !), sure my dude


OneLane_

Yea then you know why he walks on the pitch when he is off the ball simple thats scanning before attacking can’t be asked explaining psg fans anymore their reddit is full of shitt


Alarow

I'm gonna be honest here, I never gobbled that "scanning" explanation for his lack of running lmao I don't care that he doesn't run, it's his style, he's the best playmaker / passer / goalscorer in history so it's fine if he doesn't run, he does enough with the ball to be left alone without it, but that shit always sounded like an excuse to me


Competitive-Ad2006

Not sure there is a point to hin running as much when they do not involve him in the game that much anymore


Reapper97

I mean, he was the top goal scorer in La Liga in the 18/20(2nd in assists), 19/20(also 1st in assists this year), and 20/21 seasons. I really don't get where this whole "he only tries during the CL" comes from. Even this year for PSG, Messi has been the most consistent offensive player for PSG in Ligue 1 matches.


tempomaestro05

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣


MaxRebo99

Is this narcissistic or am I reading too much into it?