He was on the bench for the first two games of Argentina's World Cup qualification, despite starting one game. He could end it by leading his country to glory.
He scored against Poland in his World Cup debut. The goal he scored against Australia epitomized his enthusiasm. He showed his importance to his team against Croatia in the semi-finals.
There is a joke that stems from the fact that Stan Mortensen scored a hat- trick in the FA Cup final in 1953. When he died, it was said that his funeral would be called The Matthews funeral.
He won the penalty for Argentina's third goal and scored two of them. The man of the match was Messi. The great man accepted that his partner might have been the one to win.
If I had to choose, I would give the award to the player who did the best. Lionel Scaloni said the match was great. He helped us by scoring two goals.
A Manchester City player might be too high-profile for all that. The rise has happened quickly. When asked about his hopes for the winter when he spoke to him in the autumn, he was hesitant to say he would make it to the World Cup.
He told Sky Sports that he would like to be there. It would be great to participate in the World Cup.
The person has done more than that. He ran in the final third to bring balance to the Argentina attack. Messi's magic has made the difference, but his lack of movement requires more of others. That has been delivered by the man.
His coach at River Plate said that he played every game as if it was his first. That is spreading. At Man City, the coach said that he increases the intensity of the team with his defensive work.
He has been trying to win back possession in the final third if it is left or right. There have been no strikers at the World Cup. Argentina was in need of a man. The man was important to Messi.
It's become a theme that Argentina are a team that plays for Messi. The goalkeeper said he would rather have won it for his friend. Alvarez embodies that more than any other player.
There was a moment in the semi-finals when Messi had enough space to shoot. It was saved after he took it. He might have been able to apply the finish if he had looked for the pass.
No complaints were made. Instead, as Messi reacted to the missed opportunity, he was already away, hunting down the defender trying to bring the ball away and committing the foul that prevented Croatia from counter- attacking. His attitude was typical.
His first against Croatia was more typical than the one against Poland. As he made his way through, he almost appeared to be happy. If Messi's game is one of precision, then Alvarez is all effort.
Messi has scored more goals from open play. The relationship is reciprocated because he had the genius to set up his second game. The penalty was won by Alvarez. Their skills compliment each other.
That must be very exciting for the man. He was three when Messi made his professional debut and five when Messi first played for Argentina. It was a family event to watch him on TV.
Lionel Messi captured my family's imagination because he was the one that captured my family's imagination.
It is gratifying to have the opportunity to play at the side of Lionel Messi, one of the greatest football players in the history of the game. It's a source of pride for me.
It is difficult to duplicate him. He is special. Like everyone around him, I watch everything he does. He is a quite surprising player, not just on the pitch but off it as well.
It's possible that he is trying to learn from him. It is the differences between them that have been important to Argentina. The mind and feet of Messi are not the same. They are capable of making history together.
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