Mates, mate and freedom - how Argentina got the best out of Messi
Lionel Messi has found renewed success and emotional fulfillment playing for the Argentina national team under manager Lionel Scaloni. The team's culture, built on camaraderie and shared experiences, has provided the ideal environment for the 39-year-old star to pursue another World Cup title.
Why it matters
This piece explores the intersection of sports psychology and team culture, highlighting how personal well-being impacts the performance of elite athletes.
Published 15 July 2026, 03:05 BST Updated 1 hour ago There was a moment, after Argentina came back from 2-0 down to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, when Lionel Messi simply could not stop crying.
There was a touch of celebration but also something more raw than that. He had already cried once this tournament, after he heard of a complication with his father's health following the opening match.
This time, his tears came from relief. Not from escaping defeat against Egypt, but relief he hadn't let his team-mates down after missing a penalty that, for a while, threatened to end Argentina's tournament.
For Messi right now, the emotions arrive tangled together: relief, pressure, family, the crowd, team-mates who love him and want - more than anything - to see him win again. This may be his last World Cup. Then again, who knows.
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