Messi named for Argentina training center
The decision to change the name from "Casa de Ezeiza" to "Lionel Andres Messi" was announced in a solemn ceremony yesterday, with all members of the Argentina team in attendance. Messi and Tapia personally pulled the Argentine flag over the new sign outside the training center, and posed for pictures with this sign.
On Twitter, Tapia said it was Argentina's "historic day", and expressed gratitude to all those involved in the AFA. He said the name change was in honor of Messi and hailed the 35-year-old striker as the best player in the world.
On Instagram, Messi posted pictures of the ceremony with the message: "This is one of the best things I have ever received. I want to thank the coaching staff, players, staff of AFA. been with us. It's an honor, thank you very much!".
Messi has had a successful year with Argentina. After repeatedly being ungrateful with team titles despite reaching the 2014 World Cup finals, Copa America 2007, 2015 and 2016, he won his first title when he and Argentina defeated host Brazil 1-0 in the Copa final. America 2021. Messi scored four goals, assisted five goals to win three individual awards: Best Player, Top Scorer and Most Assistive Player.
In June 2022, Messi contributed two assists to help Argentina crush Italy 3-0 in the Intercontinental Super Cup match. Thanks to that, the 35-year-old striker won his second title at the national team level, in the third time the Super Cup match between the Euro and Copa America champions was held after France won in 1985 and Argentina in 1993.
Six months later, Messi led Argentina to the third World Cup in its history, and for the first time since 1986, following in the footsteps of the late Diego Maradona. The PSG star scored seven goals, including a brace in the final and was awarded the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball - the award for the best player of the tournament at Qatar 2022, and won the man of the match five times.
In the first match as the World Cup champion, Messi continued to shine to help Argentina beat Panama 2-0 when playing a friendly at the Monumental Stadium on the evening of March 23. In the 78th minute, he took a free kick from a distance of about 30 meters, bounced off the crossbar, letting midfielder Thiago Almada hit the back kick, scoring the first goal for the team. About 10 minutes later, Messi had another free-kick into the top corner, scoring his 800th career goal and fixing the score.
After the match, in a speech to fans, Messi said he "dreams" of celebrating winning the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 Copa America in his home country. The 35-year-old striker also thanked the fans for the love during the past memorable journey.
Messi currently has 99 goals for the team, and is aiming for the milestone of 100 goals in a friendly match against Curacao at the Unico Madre de Ciudades stadium, in the city of Santiago del Estero, Argentina on March 28.
