01x01 - The Last Cup

[bunniefuu]

[horns honking]

[pundit] Lionel Messi,
possibly the best player who's ever lived,

trying to lift the World Cup trophy
for the first time

in what is almost certainly
his final World Cup.

[Messi, in Spanish] When you dream big,
the first thing that comes to mind...

is playing in a World Cup.

[fans chanting]

I never imagined my career
would turn out the way it did.

[commentator speaking indistinctly]

[Messi] From playing as a kid in Rosario...

[commentator] Messi! Goal!

[Messi]
...to competing at the highest level...

[fans cheering]

...to playing on the world's biggest stages.

[pundit 2, in English]
Messi has won 37 club trophies,

four Champions League titles,

seven Ballon d'Ors,
six European Golden Boots...

[pundit 3] ...a Copa America title,

an Olympic gold medal
and a list of scoring...

[Bennett] He's the most decorated man
in the history of the game.

He's not a footballer,
he's a global eclipse.

[LeBron James] Argentina has
one of the best players in the world,

if not the best, in Messi.

[commentator] Beautiful pass!

[Morales, in Spanish]
When you celebrate a goal

by hugging your father, son, brother,

the person who has been giving you
so much joy is Messi.

[commentator 2] Messi!

[Morales] But he can also take it away.

[commentator 3, in English] Oh, my word!

[pundit 3] After four attempts,
Messi has not been able to win

the most coveted prize of all,
the World Cup.

[Morales, in Spanish]
It's unbearable to be Messi.

But it's extraordinary to be Messi.

[Messi] It has been an incredible journey.

But my dream is still to win the World Cup
for Argentina.

[commentator, in English] Lionel Messi,
carrying the hopes of a nation once more.

[commentator 2] Goal!

[fans cheering]

[Messi, in Spanish]
It's a mix of emotions.

This could be my last World Cup.

[commentator, in English]
He looks frustrated, disgusted.

[Messi, in Spanish]
My entire career has led to this moment.

[commentator, in English]
Lionel Messi has a shot

at his crowning moments...

[Messi, in Spanish] Every match won.

[fans cheering]

Every defeat.

[commentator, in English]
They have rocked Argentina!

[Messi, in Spanish] Every goal.

[commentator, in English]
He has a dream to fulfill!

They have a dream to fulfill!

[interviewer] If Argentina does not
win the World Cup, what's going to happen?

How will you feel?

[fans chanting] Messi! Messi! Messi!

[chanting fades]

[crew member] Messi, take one.

[interviewer] Well, let's get started.

What moment are you in now?
Are you ready for the World Cup?

Well, I am ready.

Truly, very eager and very excited.

Physically and mentally well.

I'm really looking forward to being there.

[camera operator]
Smile, fellas. We are filming.

[players chuckling, chattering]

Smile! Smile!

We are filming.

- Smile!
- Hello, Daddy.

[player speaks indistinctly]

Beyond the fact
that we want the World Cup to start,

we enjoy being together.

- [camera operator] Everything good, Rodri?
- Yes. Are you good?

- [camera operator] Everything good, boys?
- Hello, my king!

[Messi] And, well, we knew we were capable
of achieving great things.

But we also knew that World Cups
are very challenging.

And anything can happen.

[reporter, in English]
Welcome to Doha, Qatar.

Fans from around the world have descended
upon this modern Middle Eastern city

for the love of country and football,

to watch the 2022 World Cup.

[fans cheering]

There is nothing better, bigger,
more thrilling than the World Cup.

[reporter] Over the next four weeks,
the best of the best

from around the world,

32 teams, 831 players, will compete
for the title of world champion.

The FIFA World Cup
is 64 Super Bowls rolled into one month.

[fans cheering]

It generates
that incredible expl*si*n of emotion,

whether you're playing,
or it's your team that you're following.

And it's so difficult to win.

I mean, there are so many strong nations
from around the world.

[reporter] Heavy favorites
include 2018 champion France,

perennial contenders the Netherlands,

along with nations
like Spain and Portugal.

[reporter 2] Ronaldo!

[reporter] One story that has
truly captured the world's imagination,

Argentina's elder statesman, Leo Messi.

He is the most decorated man
in the history of the game,

but in his 17-year career,

Messi has not been able to win
the most coveted prize of all,

the World Cup.

[sirens blaring]

[Messi, in Spanish] Obviously, in my mind,

I've replayed this journey
a million times.

The quarterfinal,
the semifinal, the final,

everything that can happen.

I imagined... a million possibilities.

I believe that God is the one in charge.

And if something is meant
to happen to you, it will happen.

WELCOME ARGENTINA

[reporter 3] On a beautiful morning
to be Argentinian, as we've been saying,

we are reporting from Qatar University,
here in Doha.

Very close by, just a few meters away,
the Argentinian team is training.

Today is a day for recharging.

UNITED BY THE SAME DREAM

[exclaims]



[Messi] Having lived and experienced
previous World Cups

certainly made me approach it differently.

- Let's go!
- 2 to 1. I'm winning.

- [Gómez] You owe me 200.
- You're crazy.

[Messi] I try to enjoy each moment.

I will be 36 years old in June

and, due to age and timing,
this is my last World Cup.

[speaks Spanish indistinctly]

[Martínez, in English] We were all
growing up watching Messi play.

You know, everyone. Enzo, De Paul.

What we feel is that
we have to defend our hero.

[Fernández, in Spanish] It was important
for us to help him crown his career.

The team always had the sense
of wanting to win it for Leo,

who had given so much to all Argentinians

and to all of us as a team as well.

[players chattering]

We were all striving to become
world champions for him

because he deserved it
more than anyone else.

Because he had achieved everything
in his career.

And he was just missing this one.
He was missing the golden one.

[Messi] Obviously, it would be awesome
to win the World Cup,

and be able to finish my career that way.

After many years of fighting for it,

winning the World Cup in my last year
would be the dream ending.

[interviewer] What is your dream?

To play for the Argentine national team.

[children shouting]

[Messi] Well, in Argentina,
when you're a kid,

most of us want to be a soccer player.

- [whistle blows]
- [crowd cheering]

Honestly, ever since I was very young,
I loved playing soccer. It was my passion.

I was always around a soccer ball
from a young age.

I remember playing in the streets
with my brother and my cousins.

And I remember having a ball at my feet
my entire childhood.

[children cheer]

[commentator] Shot by Messi.
The ball bounces off Segovia.

Number 10 has it again,
with a fast play to the player.

Jiménez passes it to Messi!

Goal!

He dribbled past anyone crossing his path.

He scored six or seven goals
in every match.

- [reporter 4] What is your name?
- Lionel Messi.

[reporter] You were voted best player
on the field by us. Did you know that?

- No.
- [reporter] Can you tell us

about your goals in front of the camera?

- The second goal?
- [reporter] Yes, the second goal.

- Who do you want to dedicate this win to?
- [young Messi] To my dad, my uncle

and all my family
and all those who know me.

My family were obviously the ones
who tried to be by my side and support me.

To be strong.

My family and my friends
are always where--

where I feel myself.

Not the famous Messi,
but the personal one.

[person] He is very affectionate.

He is constantly hugging me
and kissing me.

And, well, then he starts to call me,
"Mommy, Mommy, come here."

He always needed something.
Whether it was taking off his socks,

or to come cover him.

He always had an excuse.

People always said that he was different,
that he had something special,

and that he stood out.

And then, as he grew older,

you could tell that
he was truly a genius with the ball.

I had to threaten him
that if he didn't do his chores,

or he didn't do his homework,
he wouldn't go to practice,

which was his worst punishment.

[Messi] In Argentina,
we are very passionate.

We really enjoy playing soccer
and living it.

I think that passion
is transmitted within families,

from fathers to sons,
among siblings, among friends.

[people playing, cheering]

[Morales] Why soccer?

Because soccer is the sport
that 40 kids can get together to play

at night, in the desert,
in the mountains, in the fields,

in the city, in the parks,
in the wastelands,

with a ball made of rags.

[Arévalo] We Argentinians
are bad at almost everything.

We export messes

and bad manners.

Our economy is bad,
we have problems with our politicians.

But when it comes to soccer...

Because of those in '78...

because of Diego in '86...

and because of Leo,

we once again
feel the greatest at something.

[Sofi] In Argentina,
the entire country comes to a standstill

when a World Cup takes place.

Literally, there is no one in the streets
because everyone is in front of a TV

awaiting that World Cup match.

[commentators speaking indistinctly on TV]

[fan] We have to win this World Cup
because it's Lionel's final one.

We just have to win.

I'm telling you,
I have faith in all of this.

For me, it's ours.

This World Cup is ours.

It has to be.

[Messi] A World Cup is special
because of everything it brings about

not just in Argentina,
but throughout the world.

Each person experiences it
in their own way

and lives it with great intensity.

[reporter] From every corner of the world,

over four billion people will be tuning in
to the World Cup

to root for their favorites.

And here in Qatar,
on the cusp of this global event,

the excitement amongst the fans
is overwhelming.

[fans cheering, chanting]

[pundit 2] The Argentinian fans
have been traveling in numbers.

They sold out their first two games
the quickest out of any nation.

[Bennett] It felt like
the whole of Argentina was in Qatar.

I don't know how they got there,
but football is deeply emotional.

When you need to find a way,
you find a way by air, by land, by sea.

[news reporter, in Spanish]
The Argentine cycling quartet

went on a 177-day tour.

When they arrived in Doha,

hundreds of fans were waiting
to cheer on their final stage.

[fan] Tremendous, tremendous adventure.

[fans cheering]

[in English] Argentinians,
they'll save up for years for this.

They'll sell their cars, they'll sell
their kitchen sink just to find some way

of getting to see this World Cup.

[in Spanish]
Well, it's been four years of savings.

I save some money every month
for this dream.

When they play the national anthem,
which is everything I've dreamt of

since I started pursuing this dream,
to sing it at the match.

[Paoloski] What a guy like Messi
awakens in you, associated with your team.

With them, one can feel that they are very
close to being able to win the World Cup.

[fans chanting, cheering]

[commentator, in English] Welcome
to the 2022 FIFA World Cup

as Argentina face Saudi Arabia.

This is group C.

Argentina and Saudi Arabia
are joined by Mexico and Poland.

Two teams will progress through
to the round of 16.

We're about to see
Argentina in action, Graeme.

Favorite for you?

Yeah, I think they have to come
into the argument.

If we see a version of Messi
from maybe seven, eight years ago,

he single-handedly could carry them
to win this trophy,

and we should treasure these moments.

You're never gonna see him again
in a World Cup.

[in Spanish] The team arrived calm
and confident,

because we had been winning
one match after the other.

We were 36 matches undefeated.

We came off from winning the Copa América,

and we knew we were
one of the best contenders

based on our accomplishments,
and how we felt internally.

[pundit 3] Lionel Scaloni leading
with authority, strength and confidence.

The youngest coach
in the entire World Cup.

There are great teams
who can win the World Cup.

Being the favorite, or being the superior,
we've got to demonstrate it.

The idea of us being the favorites
was not something we embraced.

However, we were convinced
that we could beat anyone.

[commentator, in English]
There is a sureness about this team.

They obviously have the quality
and they're out to prove

that they are the best
in the entire business.

[journalist] What do you expect
from a team like Saudi Arabia?

[Messi, in Spanish] We are going to play
the way we've been playing,

and try to go after that match
from the beginning

and always, like we've been doing.

[commentator, in English] The disparity
between the two is large today.

Argentina ranked third in the world.
Saudi Arabia, 51st.

I think that this is going to be
a situation where Saudi Arabia bunkers in,

hopes for the best.

[Bennett] This was a complete
and utter mismatch.

But the Saudi Arabian team,
they did have one incredible asset.

Their manager, Hervé Renard.

You know, a French maverick,

almost a mercenary who's kind of
rolled around the football world

delivering glory for African team
after African team.

When you are playing a stronger team,
you always have hope,

but you also need to be realistic.

[pundit] They've only advanced past
the group stage of a World Cup once before

and I don't see them putting up
much of a fight

in this opening game against Argentina.

[fans cheering, chanting]

[Di María, in Spanish] Wearing Argentina's
jersey comes with a lot of responsibility.

You have 45 million people behind you.

Uh, we knew this one could be it,
that it could happen.

[players, staff chattering, clapping]

[fans chanting] Messi! Messi! Messi!

[children cheering]

[children] Messi! Messi!

[commentator, in English]
Messi has won pretty much everything

except that 18 karat gold


He has said it's his last World Cup.

Is it going to be his World Cup?

[fans cheering]

[in Spanish] For many,
this was their first World Cup.

So there was a lot of joy, excitement,
and nervousness.

[Fernández] It felt like a daydream.

I looked around and said,
"I'm playing in a World Cup."

All the people cheering for Argentina.

[fans cheering]

[commentator, in English]
This tournament has given such joy

to the country of Argentina at times,

but has weighed heavily on the shoulders
of various generations too.

This trophy has not been theirs

since it was lifted higher
in Mexico in 1986.

The stage is well and truly set.

One of the favorites against a side

that have won once
in a World Cup in 28 years.

Argentina against Saudi Arabia kicks off.

Argentina, well drilled,
well stocked with talent

and very well fancied
to go deep into the tournament,

taking on Saudi Arabia,

a capable group
who can be miserly in defense.

[Scaloni, in Spanish]
We knew how we wanted to play.

We knew it would be
hard for them to beat us.

We all had confidence that the team was,
not indestructible, but in good shape.

[commentator 2] Flicks it with his heel.

Lautaro passes it to Messi.

De Paul gives it his all.

[commentator, in English] It's all about
Messi, but it can't all be about Messi

if Argentina want to succeed, can it?

[commentator 3] History will tell you
that's not been enough in the past.

[commentator] In towards Martínez.
Far too close to the man with the gloves.

We felt super comfortable
towards Saudi Arabia

and we were confident
that we can go through.

[fans chanting] Messi! Messi!

Nice run from Ángel Di María.

They're going to try to get Saudi Arabia
on the back foot.

That's a snappy turn-- And it's Messi!

Oh, it's a brilliant save.
Point-blank stop.

[commentator 3]
Well, dare I say it? He should score.

Messi will be disappointed with that.
Big start though.

[Di María, in Spanish]
The first match is the most important.

There's the pressure
of knowing you have to win.

You know you're facing
a team that's weaker than you.

[commentator, in English]
Argentina, knocking on the door

within the first couple of minutes.

[Di María, in Spanish] If we feel this,
imagine how Leo feels,

with everyone waiting for him
to score a hat trick in the first match.

That's not easy.

[commentator, in English]
Gómez being chased by Abdulhamid.

Tussling. A rather tenacious effort.

I mean, he's given away a corner.

[commentator 2]
And it's Lionel Messi who will deliver it.

[commentator 5] Very congested,
lots of bodies in there.

[referee blows whistle]

[commentator] Here's Messi.

Goalkeeper had to come and take charge
and he did.

- [referee blows whistle]
- But there is an issue.

[commentator 5] They did have a wobble
in the penalty area.

[commentator]
What's the decision? It is penalty!

[commentator 2, in Spanish]
Penalty kick for Argentina!

[commentator, in English] Argentina
quite literally handed an opportunity.

[commentator 3] The Saudi Arabia defender
has no eyes on the ball whatsoever

and pulls over the Argentinian forward.

[Bennett] Within ten minutes,

Argentina won a penalty,
up stepped Lionel Messi...

[commentator] And of all people to give
an early opportunity to,

it will be Lionel Messi.

[whistle blows]

[crowd cheering]

[commentator 2, in Spanish] Goal!

For Argentina! Lionel!

It was the first time
I saw a live goal in the World Cup.

And it was Leo's goal.

[commentator, in English] Lionel Messi,

always center stage, but this is
the trophy he really wants to win.

And he gets Argentina off
to a terrific start.

[Messi, in Spanish] Scoring a goal
in a full stadium at a World Cup

is a dream I've always had.

But getting here was not easy.

It was a path of hard work,
effort and sacrifice.

[young Messi] It is very nice
to be here and play for Barcelona.

And to think
you're with the biggest club in the world.

Beautiful.

[reporter 4] What did your family think?

Well, they were very happy.

[Messi] When I was 13,

I was recruited by
Barcelona's youth academy.

But this opportunity led me
to make a very difficult decision.



I had to leave my family, my friends
and my country.

[reporter 4] Did you make friends there?
Did you talk to anyone?

No. Just one, but very little.

[Messi] And well,
it was a bit weird at the beginning,

and then the whole story changed.

Just the fact of showing up
at the Barcelona training facility,

and being given
a set of clothes to wear for practice.

Those small things were already

a big difference for me.

[spectators cheering]

[Gratacós] He is a person
who has a learning process

that is much faster than other people.

And this means when he learns,
he moves up a level.

He's risen quickly
because he's a fast learner.

[spectators cheering]

[Valdano] Leo is not the first
amphibian creature,

meaning he was shaped in the streets
and an academy.

And that shaped his way of playing soccer
in a very specific way.

And Leo, being a top player
and number one, learned new things.

For example,
he learned how to take free kicks

in a way that made him
one of the best in history.

[commentator, in English]
Here's Messi... Goal. Goal!

[Lineker] When I heard about Lionel Messi,

there was talk of this special talent.

I hadn't seen him but I'd heard--

I'd heard things
telling me about this wonderkid.

[commentator] To Messi.
Will he get that first goal for Barcelona?

[fans cheering]

Remember the name. Lionel Messi.

At the age of 17,
scores his first goal for Barcelona.

[in Spanish] Everything changed
after the 2004-2005 season,

when we started to see what he really was.

[commentator] Here comes Messi.
The Argentinian moves into the box.

Messi still inside the box!
He's about to sh**t!

What a goal! What a goal!

[commentator 2, in English] He's gone
all the way across the edge of the box--

Oh, my-- What a goal! What a talent!

[in Spanish] What a great match,
and what a standing ovation.

Yes, it's true. Once again,
the public shows their love to me,

and I always say I have to be grateful
because it makes me very happy.

[pundit 4]
Lionel Messi is a spectacular player,

unlike anyone else.

He is an exceptional player.

[commentator]
That's what Lionel Messi has in mind.

Messi takes everybody on!
Messi has done it!

- [cheering]
- He gets a hat trick.

This is a game that's going to be
remembered as the Lionel Messi match.

[in Spanish] I grew up a lot
in the Barcelona youth academy.

But my dream was

to play for Argentina's national team
and playing in the World Cup.

Obviously,
while he was playing for Barcelona,

scouts from Spain
instantly detected Leo Messi's potential.

But he never doubted
that he was Argentinian.

That he wanted to play
for the Argentinian national team.

That was Messi's first patriotic gesture
in his career.

Choosing Argentina over Spain.

Bigger than any title
he could have won afterwards.

ARGENTINA

[Messi]
I was lucky to go to the 2006 World Cup

with an impressive group of players.

I don't know if I'm going to play,
but I'm happy.

[reporter] What's the objective?

Try to do things right if I get to play.

[commentator, in English] Lionel Messi.
That young star from Barcelona,

now making his World Cup debut.

[Messi, in Spanish] I thought about
wanting to just play, to help.

And the truth is...

THIS IS MY DREAM

...I wasn't aware of

what it was like to play in a World Cup,
and what I was experiencing.

I just wanted to play.

[commentator, in Spanish] Tevez. Crespo.
Tevez. Goes to Messi. Do it, do it, do it.

Messi in the area.

Goal! Thank you very much!

[interviewer]
Do you remember the goal you scored?

Yes, I do. It was a pass from Carlitos,

and I went to the right

and kicked the ball towards the near post
with my right foot.

[commentator, in English]
At just 18 years old,

Messi celebrates
his first ever World Cup goal.

[Messi, in Spanish]
For me, everything was special

about what it meant to play
in the national team,

and being able to score a goal
in the World Cup...

It was spectacular.

We were eliminated.

But those were my beginnings,

my first games in the national team.

It is special.

[fans cheering]

[commentator] And yet another milestone
in the triumphant career of Lionel Messi,

who becomes
the first Argentina player ever

to score at four different World Cups.

[commentator 2] It's Argentina
who have the lead by a goal to nil.

[De Paul, in Spanish]
Penalty for us, and he scores.

Starting off like that
is important to him.

So it was like,
"All right, now the team's ready to go."

[commentator, in English]
And if there were any Argentina nerves

coming into this tournament,
they will presumably have been settled.

[commentator 3] They have
the talent throughout their ranks

to beat this Saudi Arabia team.

[Bennett] It began exactly
how we imagined it would begin.

With Argentina dominating, Saudi Arabia
seeming almost starstruck there.

They're almost like third cousins at
a bar mitzvah, just happy to be invited.

Lionel Messi and Argentina began
to whirl through their motions,

their machinations,
and just overwhelm them.

[commentator]
Messi trying to get through undetected.

Goalkeeper's decided to stay at home.

And Messi takes full advantage.

[cheering, shouting]

[referee blows whistle]

The flag pauses the celebrations.

No goal. Offside is the official decision.

And it's been given against Lionel Messi.

[commentator 3]
I just see Messi's right shoulder there.

Saudi Arabia have just relied on
that high line.

That's a really risky tactic.

[in Spanish] We knew that
Saudi Arabia obviously played

with their defenders pushing
the defensive line forward.

But it was a tactic they ex*cuted well.

[commentator, in English]
And through they go once again.

Goalkeeper comes to meet him.

It's a sumptuous finish.

Lautaro Martínez!

[commentator 2] No goal. Offside.

[Bennett]
And Argentina just blitzed Saudi Arabia.

They scored goal after goal after goal.

[commentator 4, in Spanish] Messi
is going for a pass to Lautaro Martínez.

This time he is onside.

Lautaro feints, gets away.
Phenomenal! Goal! Goal! Goal!

- No, no, no.
- [commentator 5] Offside.

[Bennett] However,
each goal was ruled off for offside.

[commentator]
And once again, the flag is raised.

[in Spanish] We couldn't score,
couldn't control the match,

and that is disrupting.

[pundit] Seven offsides in 35 minutes.

[commentator, in English] And that is
the end of the first 45 minutes,

which has been largely controlled
by Argentina.

[crowd cheering, shouting]

[Scaloni, in Spanish] Everything started
off great, and we were winning at halftime

and felt things could not be better.

We were up 1-0.

Even though goals were disallowed,
there was a sense of superiority.

[crowd cheering]

[Bennett, in English] At halftime,
Hervé Renard looked seething.

They were barely holding on.

But he gave a speech
to his Saudi Arabian team,

which was like...
[blows] ...it was like French Churchill.

What are we doing here?

[interpreter translating into Arabic]

- Saleh...
- [interpreter] Saleh.

[in English] This is your pressing?

Martin, last time-- Martin.

Messi, at the middle of the pitch,

he has the ball,
you stand in front of the defense!

Take your phone, you can
make a picture with him if you want!

- He has the goal!
- [interpreter translates into Arabic]

[in English]
You don't feel we are able to come back?

[translates into Arabic]

[in English] You don't feel it?

- Give everything.
- [interpreter translates into Arabic]

- [in English] Hey, come on! Move yourself.
- [translates into Arabic]

[players cheering]

[commentator, in English]
Both sides making their way back out.

[in Spanish] We went into the second half,
believing that if we continued

in the same manner,
we could secure a significant advantage.

[referee blows whistle]

[commentator, in English]
Underway at the start of the second half.

[no audible dialogue]

[Fernández, in Spanish] We knew that
Saudi Arabia would counterattack

with their physically strong players.

We didn't back down,

but it's a World Cup and you have to
be attentive all 90 minutes.

[commentator 6, in English]
Saudi Arabia is closing down.

Not allowing any spaces
for the likes of Messi.

[commentator] Whatever Hervé Renard said
at the interval,

it has had the desired effect.

[commentator 2] They are giving
absolutely everything defensively.

[no audible dialogue]

[commentator]
Messi often has two around him.

[crowd cheers]

[commentator 3, in Spanish]
Goal from Saudi Arabia!

[commentator, in English]
A blockbuster start to the second half

for Saudi Arabia.

[cheering]

And it's 1-1 against one of the favorites.

[commentator 4]
We've got a game on our hands.

[in Spanish] Out of nowhere, uh...

they scored their first goal.

[commentator, in English] Saleh Al-Shehri
has struck gold for Saudi Arabia.

[Di María, in Spanish]
From that point on, anything could happen.

[commentator, in English]
Well, who saw this coming?

Saudi Arabia haven't qualified
from the opening stage

since their debut in 1994.

And have only got three wins to their name
from 16 games played at the finals.

But they are level at 1-1.

[in Spanish] We thought
the Saudi Arabia match would be easier,

to tell you the truth.

Well, it turned out to be the opposite.

[commentator, in English] Saudi Arabia
committing plenty forward here.

And the strike is decent.

But Saudi Arabia are becoming
difficult to contain.

Al-Dawsari...

- Oh, my word!
- [crowd cheering]

Who saw this coming?

And they've turned it right around!

In the space of a few minutes,
Saudi Arabia grab control of the game!

They lead Argentina at the World Cup.

[in Spanish]
And, well, it was a devastating blow.

[Bennett, in English] One of the most
astonishing World Cup goals I've seen.

Al-Dawsari hit that ball
with just unbridled power.

It almost felt like
he was not just trying to score a goal,

he was landing a haymaker
right on Lionel Messi's chin.

[crowd cheers]

[referee blows whistle]

[commentator] Queuing up in the middle.
It's Messi!

[De Paul, in Spanish] We began to notice
that things were getting a little harder.

Your legs feel heavier.

Sometimes breathing is harder.

Things were not as smooth as usual.

The team collapsed emotionally. Collapsed.

They were not able to find
the rhythm of the game, to link naturally.

[Di María] When Leo is concerned,
his expression changes a bit.

He becomes a bit more serious.

He starts shaking his head, as if
he can't understand what's happening.

I think in that moment I saw him worried,
but he kept trying.

He continued wanting to win the match.

[commentator, in English] Here's Messi...
And it's over, and considerably so.

[Fernández, in Spanish] The minutes were
ticking by and we couldn't score.

[commentator, in English]
In from Di María.

[commentator 2] Al-Owais is there.

[crowd cheering]

[in Spanish] We kept creating


When it doesn't want to go in,
it won't go in.

[commentator, in English] In from De Paul.
Goalkeeper has it-- Lost it...

and is rescued.

[in Spanish] It just wasn't
coming together, and you suffer.

You suffer because... [chuckles] ...you can't
do anything else but keep trying.

But it was very tough.

Very tough because there we saw
not only the game slipping away,

but also a part of the World Cup.

[commentator, in English] Those in green
are desperate for the whistle.

- [referee blows final whistle]
- And there it is!

There are upsets,

and then there is this.

A group stage start
beyond Saudi Arabia's wildest dreams!

Undoubtedly, we have just seen

one of the greatest shocks
that this tournament has ever witnessed.

Messi and his men beaten.

Thirty-six games they've gone
without losing,

and it's been ended in the opening match.

[commentator 4] And that is seismic.

Nobody expected, you know, a team
that had a 36-match unbeaten streak

to come in and lose to Saudi Arabia.

You play that game a hundred times,
and Argentina will win 99 of those games.

[crowd cheering]

The history of Argentinian football
is super aggressive with great technique.

Didn't see any of that today.

That was a shadow
of any Argentinian team I've ever seen.

They were a shadow today.

Watching Lionel Messi walk off the field...

It was an agony.
In this moment, he looked defeated.

[commentator]
The pressure will mount on Argentina.

Lionel Messi looks baffled.

[Verdú, in Spanish] To carry the weight
of an entire country's expectations

is complicated.

[fans chanting, cheering]

[in English] I can't see him!
I can't see him. Where is Messi?

[chanting]

Well, after they lost against
Saudi Arabia, everything went nuts.

[reporter] This may be one of
the biggest shocks in World Cup history.

[reporter 2, in Spanish] The truth is
we are shocked. We are surprised.

It's a World Cup walloping.

Suddenly, the ghosts are rising,
the storm clouds are gathering.

[in English] Pretty much across the board,

every football person
that was speaking were going,

"They were overhyped. They're no good."

[in Spanish] You have to show character,

which we haven't seen
in the Argentine national team.

[in English]
If Messi is the greatest of all time,

surely he could drive them to victory
when they're 2-1 down.

He could be that leader that they needed.

"Messi's shot. He's too old.
He's never going to win a World Cup."

This is probably a blasphemy,
but Lionel Messi was just walking around.

Uh, and he didn't contribute a lot today.

[Lineker] And the whole country
comes down on top of you.

It's a tough business.

[reporter, in Spanish]
Can Messi's team turn this story around?

Can they pull it off after this
unexpected start to the World Cup?

[Messi] I've played in a World Cup before...

and to lose the first match is never easy.

Your head gets full of doubts.

But the idea was that it was
a match of circumstances,

and we should leave it that way.

So, it was a hard blow for us
to start off that way.

[commentator, in English] They have rocked
Argentina and Lionel Messi to their core.