Messi: Professional Career Internationally

Professional Career Internationally

(Phase: 3)

He debuted for Argentina in June 2004 played in an under-20 friendly match against Paraguay. In 2005, he won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands being a part of a team and won the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe scoring in the last four of Argentina's matches and netting a total of six for the contest.

On 17 August 2005, He made his full international debut against Hungary at the age of 18. Though he was substituted on during the 63rd minute, was sent off on the 65th minute because the referee. Markus Merk, found that he had head butted defender Vilmos Vanczak, who was towing Messi's shirt. The decision was controversial and Maradona even claimed the decision was pre-planned. Messi returned to the team on 3 September in Argentina's 1–0 World Cup qualifier away defeating Paraguay. Ahead of the match, he had said that this is a re-debut.

In a World Cup Qualifier against Venezuela on 28 March 2009, Messi wore the number 10 jersey for the first time with Argentina. This match was the first official match for Diego Maradona as the Argentina manager and won the match 4–0 with Messi opening the scoring.

World Cup 2006

Being injured from playing for two months at the end of the 2005–06 seasons, Messi jeopardized his presence in the 2006 World Cup. Nevertheless, Messi was selected in the Argentina squad for the tournament on 15 May 2006 and also played in the final match before the World Cup against the Argentine U-20 team for 15 minutes and a friendly match against Angola from the 64th minute. He witnessed Argentina’s opening match victory against Ivory Coast from the substitute's bench. Messi In the next match against Serbia, became the youngest player to represent Argentina at a World Cup when he came on as a substitute for Maxi Rodriguez in the 74th minute. He assisted Hernan Crespo’s goal within few minutes of entering the game. He also scored the final goal in the 6–0 victory and made him the youngest scorer in the tournament and the sixth youngest goal scorer in the history of the World Cup. Messi started in Argentina's following 0–0 draw against the Netherlands and in the following game against Mexico; he came on as a replacement in the 84th minute, with the score fixed at 1–1. He became visible to score a goal, but it was lined offside with Argentina needing a late goal in extra time to proceed. Coach José Pekerman left Messi on the counter during the quarter-final match against Germany, which they mislaid 4–2 on a penalty shootout.

to be continued.........................

Maradona: International Career

Professional Career internationally

(Face: 2)

At the age of 16 Maradona compete for the first time in international match for Argentina against Hungary on February 27, 1977.

At this time, Maradona found his fame at Napoli, international football where he played for the Albicelestes of the Argentina national football team and took part in four successive FIFA World Cup tournaments, leading Argentina to victory in 1986 and second place in 1990.

World Cup: 1982

Maradona took part in his first World Cup contest in 1982. In the first round, Argentina won the match against Belgium who was defeated in the second round by Brazil and Italy. Maradona played all matches and scored twice against Hungary but was left five minutes before in the game for serious foul play against Brazil.

World Cup: 1986

Being a captain in Argentine national team, Maradona played to get victory in the FIFA World CUP 1986 winning the final match against West Germany in Mexico. Over the whole time of World Cup 1986, Maradona stressed his supremacy and was the most vibrant player of the contest.

World Cup: 1990

Maradona being a captained of Argentina team in the FIFA World Cup 1990, he was much less prevailing than four years earlier due to an ankle injury exaggerated his overall recital. Argentina was almost eradicated in the first round being qualified in third position from their group.

In the quarter final, Argentina played against Yugoslavia ending 0–0 after 120 minutes and Argentina was advanced on penalty kicks, notwithstanding Maradona loosing one of the penalties in the shootout with a pathetic shot at the centre of the goal.

The semifinal was held against the host nation Italy resolving on penalties after a 1-1 draw. At this time Maradona was very much successful to shot and won against Italy. But in the final match, Argentina lost by 1:0 to West Germany for only one goal being a penalty by Andreas Brehme after a contentious foul on Rudi Voller in 85^th minute.

World Cup: 1994

Maradona played only two games in FIFA World Cup 1994 securing one goal against Greece due to failing a drug test for ephedrine doping. FIFA expelled him from the World Cup 1994 match and Argentina were consequently eradicated in the second round. Meradona also discretely claimed that he had been an agreement with FIFA to allow him to use the drug for minimizing weight before the competition so that he could be able to play in the World Cup match. After that, the world cup could not be possible to be conquered by Argentina team till now.

to be continued..................

Maradona: Career Appraisal

Career Appraisal

(Face: 5)

• Maradona’s overall average score of goals per match in domestic club competitions is 0.526.

• He played in 21 successive competitions for Argentina in four World Cups in 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994.
• He was appeared a World Cup record of 16 times as captain of the national team.
• Scored 8 goals and completed 8 assists in 21 World Cup manifestations, including 5 goals and 5 assists in 1986.
• Fixed for second-highest goal-scorer from Argentina in World Cup finals equaled Guillermo Stabile’s mark in 1994; exceeded by Gabriel Batistuta in 1998.

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