By Rihana Mohamed
Having watched soccer since I was a little kid, I was so excited to attend the Argentina vs. Algeria match in Kansas City. The idea of Lionel Messi playing a World Cup match in Kansas City made me laugh a little. It felt so random seeing one of the greatest soccer players of all time in a city I had never associated with the sport. The atmosphere inside the stadium reflected the excitement of the tournament just getting underway. The environment felt carefree, with the fans simply excited that the World Cup had finally started. Argentina controlled most of the match, with the crowd going wild once Messi scored a hat-trick. As he got subbed off everyone was cheering him off as I was excited for the remainder of the World Cup.
Six weeks later, I found myself sitting at the World Cup final. I felt the shift from the excited anticipation for the start of the World Cup to a tense environment eagerly waiting for the results of who would be crowned the champions.
It was surreal to be sitting in that stadium with 80,000 other people, most of them wearing a jersey with “Messi” on the back. The atmosphere was electric, with Argentina fans breaking into chants every few minutes. Although I could not understand most of the words they were singing, their passion and love for the game echoed throughout the stadium.
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Before kickoff, the area surrounding the stadium was filled with fan events where thousands of supporters gathered in anticipation of the match. When the Spain and Argentina team buses arrived and the players were introduced, the roar from the crowd was deafening. The opening ceremony felt bittersweet because, for the previous six weeks, I had spent nearly every day watching countries from around the world compete for the chance to play in this match. I knew that once the final whistle blew, the excitement following the tournament would come to an end, leaving the emptiness that follows an event you’ve invested so much in.
The first half featured countless attacking opportunities from Spain, but Argentina’s defense held firm, and the score remained 0–0. The stadium was dominated by Argentina supporters, with only small pockets of red scattered throughout the sea of blue. As one of those Spain supporters, I found myself cheering for every Spanish chance while most of the people around me remained silent.
Watching Messi play live was surreal. His composure, vision, and technical ability stood out in a way that television could never fully capture. Although Spain controlled much of the match, one of the biggest reasons for their success was the constant attention they gave Messi. It seemed as though he always had at least two defenders marking him whenever he touched the ball.
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As the second half and extra time unfolded, the tension inside the stadium became almost overwhelming. Frustration was visible on both teams as every opportunity became more significant than the last. When Spain finally scored in the second half of extra time, the few Spain supporters around me—including the person sitting next to me and myself—jumped to our feet in celebration while nearly everyone else around us fell silent. It was clear that both the Argentina players and their fans were feeling the weight of the moment. Although I couldn’t understand most of the Spanish being spoken around me, I could tell from the increasing number of swear words that emotions were running high.
When the final whistle blew, the Spain players erupted in celebration, embracing one another as they ran across the field. On the other side, the Argentina players turned toward their supporters as chants of “Argentina” and “Messi” echoed throughout the stadium. Rather than expressing anger, the fans honored their team for everything they had accomplished throughout the tournament.
As a Spain fan, seeing Messi look toward the crowd and break down in tears was heartbreaking. I couldn’t help but wonder if he realized this might be one of his final matches wearing the Argentina jersey and if he was thinking about the disappointment of falling just short for his country.
During the awards ceremony, although you would think all the attention would be on Spain, the crowd was still echoing chants for Messi and the Argentina team showcasing their passion and love for all that they had accomplished this World Cup.
Despite the result, both teams fought with incredible determination and represented their countries with pride. Being able to witness that level of passion, talent, and emotion in person was a once-in-a-lifetime experience—one that I will never forget.