Argentina crash out of the World Cup

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“We always support the national team,” says Lucas, his face painted in blue and white – the colors of the Argentine flag. “But today we were a disaster.”

Lucas was one of thousands of football fans out in the cold at a park in Buenos Aires to watch Argentina face France in the second round of the World Cup.

Outside, vendors sold replica World Cup trophies. Sales, however, were slow. After a poor performance during the group phase, few supporters expected the team to go as far as four years ago in Brazil, when Messi and company reached the finals.

Argentina ‘was a disaster’, says supporter Lucas. /CGTN Photo

Argentina were sent packing after losing 4-3 to France. The shortcomings of the side coached by Jorge Sampaoli had been on display in the group stage but against France, and in particular against Kylian Mbappé, they were laid bare.

The performance of France’s teenage striker Mbappé, including his two goals, suggests football has a new superstar after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the individual awards over the past decade. Mbappé’s performance coincided with both Messi and Ronaldo exiting the World Cup on Saturday.

Argentinians are now left wondering if the national team has missed out on winning a World Cup with Lionel Messi. The Barcelona star turned 31 during the competition. “Messi was playing as a false number nine,” says Graciela, as she left the park with her son after the game. “He looked lost.”

A fan of Argentina wears a scarf with a Lionel Messi print. /CGTN Photo

Messi was used in a different tactical role against France, but the expectations remained the same as throughout his career.

Coaches and players have come and gone in recent years, but Argentina always looked to Messi to single-handedly save the team. “It is a shame they couldn’t bring back the trophy,” adds Graciela. “But this doesn’t mean Messi doesn’t represent us. He is still number one.”

Despite backing Messi, this was Argentina’s worst World Cup performance since 2002, when the team failed to progress from the group phase. But the problems are more than simply sports. Argentina’s national game has faced an institutional crisis in recent years and many agree the team’s results reflect that.

After losing to France, midfielder Javier Mascherano was the first to announce his retirement from the Argentina national team on Saturday. Other players from the generation that reached the World Cup final in Brazil and two Copa America finals may follow suit. While supporters hope that it will not include Messi, it sure is the end of an era for Argentina.