Argentina has never landed in a World Cup with so many expectations to crown as it happens now with the adventure that is already coming in Qatar. There are culprits, of course. Messi and his hunger to crown, Scaloni and his total coherence, the players who wear the shirt and maintain a level as high as regular, the undefeated of 35 games, the Copa América caught after beating Brazil in the Maracana, the Finalissima kneeling to Italy… There is a brutal identification with this National Team. An example of the albiceleste madness is reflected in the demand for cards: It costs more than a lot to get them and the Government even had to intervene. Another eloquent fact is linked to the purchase of World Cup tickets: they were sold out for the first round…
Nobody would have imagined when this cycle started that this new Selection, almost without relevant surnames, would cause such a revolution. This defiant Messi spreads to the extreme, placed as a leader at the disposal of a young group, integrated into that different context compared to their previous stages in Argentina, determined to show their fantasies even in the less relevant matches.
Then, When it comes to completing the World Cup album, Leo is of course one of the most sought after. Here, in Argentina, we call stickers figurines. And the figurine of 10, the extra, “Lionel Messi Legend”, is quoted with scary numbers. In Mercado Libre it is offered today at 60,000 pesos, a little more than 423 euros!
Very far from Messi, the second most coveted is Emiliano Martínez. Dibu’s chrome is paid up to 4,000 pesos. Later, for Angel Di María, up to 3,000 is requested. By Lautaro Martínez, 2,000. By Rodrigo DePaul, 1750. And that of Scaloni, the DT to whom the AFA announced that he has already renewed his contract until 2026? For the other Lionel, modest 250 pesos.
The problem is that the figurines are not easily available. Missing. They all claim. In the kiosks is where they usually buy. Nevertheless, Panini distributed more in supermarkets and service stations. Then, a conflict arose between the trading card company and the newsstand union. And the issue became a matter of state. The Government had to intervene through the Secretary of Domestic Trade, Matías Tombolini, who summoned both parties.
The drawback is that this meeting was posted by the figures from the official accounts of the secretariat. So, in a country with a exploited economy and with multiple open background conflictsthe complaints multiplied for spending time on a minor problem and also of course the memes.
This Argentine National Team falls in love, catches, captivates, stimulates. That is why it is no coincidence that the albiceleste is one of the ones that sold the most tickets for the first phase. Tickets for the three opening matches have already sold out. At the Argentine Embassy in Qatar they assure that a minimum of 25,000 Argentines will travel to Doha, although they believe that number will eventually grow to 40,000. Messi and company will feel local.
read also
