Argentina taught me a lesson about hospitals this summer.
Four years ago, Argentina won the World Cup with a solid team led by Lionel Messi. Messi provided extraordinary talent, but the championship was also built on cohesion, discipline, sacrifice, and players who seemed to understand exactly what they owed to one another. It was a truly well-oiled machine with a genius brain.
This year, Argentina returned with the same coach, Messi as captain again, and many of the same players who won in 2022. The team was still excellent. It reached another final, and Messi, at age 39, remained capable of extraordinary football, evident by the beautiful goals he scored and brilliant assists he provided.
But against Spain, Argentina looked increasingly dependent on defending, absorbing pressure, and waiting for an aging superstar to produce one more decisive moment. Argentina did not register a single shot on target all match, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez’s multiple saves were largely responsible for keeping the score close.
Spain, however, was different. The players evolved during the game, controlled the final with style, pressed collectively, and repeatedly created chances before winning 1-0 in extra time. They had superstars on the pitch, like the 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, but they did not shine individually — they appeared as a cohesive team.
