Messi and the Historic Hattrick
Lionel Messi recorded his biggest hat-trick since he took his first steps into the world of football.
This time, the Argentine flea didn't use a ball, nor did he aim towards the net. Instead, he invested a fierce desire to score goals away from the field and close to investing in his fame and charisma that he has built throughout his long career with the round ball, especially after donning the cloak of the most expensive title and winning the World Cup.
Messi may be somewhat distant from direct conversations, and all he receives are signals about the offers that his father and maker of his glory, Jorge, put in his pocket and carry from one city to another, greedily seeking to increase the size of his other pocket and fill it with European currency checks.
Messi agreed with Paris Saint-Germain to continue for another season before the start of the World Cup matches, giving the French club hope to continue the construction project for their strong team by gathering the most important football stars to achieve the Champions League. However, the tone changed after Messi lifted the World Cup, and there were other ambitions with increasing competitors for Paris to attract the Argentine star.
News about Messi's transfer to Saudi Arabia leaked, and positive signals emerged about reaching an (oral) agreement, as was the case with Paris. Everyone was waiting for the announcement of the fantastic deal that exceeded one billion euros, while at the same time, movements in Barcelona were in full swing, after Messi made a promise to President Laporta that Barcelona would be his priority. Moreover, his father visited the Catalan city and laid the groundwork for the historic return deal.
Thousands of miles away, the movements of English legend David Beckham, the president of Inter Miami Club in the United States, were proceeding more quietly but with the greatest impact. What we heard about Al Hilal's offer was multiplied by Jorge in a complex deal that brought together several of the world's largest companies with shares in the club and other details that raised the amount to over two billion euros over four years.
It seems that Jorge has become the greatest mastermind among player agents on this earth, as he held in his hands three tempting offers that made everyone salivate. Each party was given hope of putting his son's name on the contract to announce his final achievement. But in the end, the biggest offer prevailed, not the most exciting or the one that represents a new experience worth sacrificing for. We all know that going to a tournament that ranks fourth or fifth in the priorities of the American people does not qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The maximum that can be reached is the Club World Cup if the team wins the title of the American continent. It is considered a step for marketing purposes rather than a step forward.
Messi achieved the historic hat-trick and emerged with the biggest contract in the history of football. He will start his new experience, which seems to be his last as a player, and he will undergo the same fate chosen by previous stars like Beckham himself, Thierry Henry, Kaka, David Villa, Wayne Rooney, Pirlo, Drogba, Gareth Bale, Chiellini, and others who have faded away. The fans may forget them as players on the field. Perhaps Ibrahimovic was an exception after spending three seasons with the Galaxy and deciding to return to Europe to restore his brilliance and announce his retirement in reverse with AC Milan, making him a legend in the minds of all those who followed and admired his style.
Messi's fans will be eager to watch clips of the matches he plays with his new club, and those who love him may have to stay up until the early hours according to the timing of the Arab region and Europe, just to watch him live in matches that may only matter to the tournament organizers and their sponsoring companies.