SOME THINGS ARE WORTH THE WAIT
When Exequiel Zeballos noticed his name in Argentina’s squad for their November round of World Cup qualifiers, he couldn’t hold back the tears. Next to him, listed as an offensive midfielder, was his idol Lionel Messi.
The Boca Juniors teenager, born in 2002, belongs to the generation that grew up listening to Messi’s critics and had to stand up for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner each time he was chastised at home. For the past 15 years, kids like Zeballos have mostly been among those backing Messi while their elders have blasted him at every Sunday barbecue.
It seems strange to those who’ve seen the Flea tear his European rivals apart season upon season – but to Messi’s doubters, his sins went like this: Messi walks around on the pitch. Messi isn’t committed. Messi isn’t a leader. Messi is moody. Messi doesn’t sing the national anthem. Messi doesn’t speak. Messi only plays video games. Messi can’t pull the strings. Messi isn’t a No.10. Messi can’t cope with the pressure. Messi doesn’t care. Messi doesn’t win. Messi is a quitter. Messi was saved by Pep Guardiola. Messi is not Diego Maradona.
But for Zeballos and every other millennial, the younger Argentine great was king. It was a conversational Cold War; adults dismissing Messi over family meals,
