Lionel Messi replicates exactly Diego Maradona pose as Argentina captain held aloft by hundreds after winning World Cup
LIONEL Messi replicated Diego Maradona’s pose from 1986 as Argentina finally lifted the World Cup again after a 36-year wait.
Messi drove his country on throughout the tournament and was instrumental in the dramatic final win over France.
The victory sparked mass celebrations in which Messi was lifted above the rest of his team-mates while holding the trophy in the air.
Maradona, who was the star of the World Cup in Mexixo 36 years ago, also held the trophy aloft with the rest of the squad around him when he got his hands on the trophy.
Messi scored seven goals and assisted a further three on La Albiceleste’s way to glory in Qatar.
Maradona was just as influential during Mexico ’86, getting five goals and five assists.
Both, of course, won the player of the tournament accolade.
Messi was pipped to the Golden Boot by Kylian Mbappe, while Maradona was beaten to the individual trophy by England’s Gary Lineker, who netted six.
Messi has long been compared with Maradona, with critics claiming the PSG star hadn’t won the World Cup like the man who passed away aged 60 in 2020.
But now, Messi has achieved greatness and on his accomplishment he said: “It’s simply unbelievable. I knew that God was going to give me the Cup, I was sure — it was a big joy for us.
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“I had this big dream for a long time, I wanted to close my career with the World Cup. I can’t ask for more than this.”
Messi was expected to retire from international duty as he confirmed before the clash with France that it would be his last World Cup game, but he has now hinted at defending his crown in 2026.
He already has the record for most goals scored by one player at World Cups with 13, overtaking Brazil icon Pele.