The wait is over. The contest, most likely too. I mean, winning the Copa America award seems enough to quiet haters whose claim was “He hasn’t helped his country, and so he shouldn’t be given the title of ‘the greatest of all time’. The 1-0 win against Brazil in the Copa America final has given the six-time Ballon D’or winner a major career breakthrough.
Although a winner of many club awards, the 34-year-old has been a beaten finalist on four separate occasions with Argentina – three times in the Copa America and once in the World Cup. This has made a dent in his career and has been the major factor why his being the G.O.A.T. is being argued.
The named player of the tournament fell to his knees clearly emotional at the final whistle. In his words, “It’s crazy, the happiness the feeling is inexplicable. I knew that at some point it was going to happen,” he said. “The objective was clear and we were able to be champions. The happiness is immense. Many times I have dreamed of this. I told Fideo (Di Maria) that today he was going to have his revenge and that’s how it was. I want to share this with those teammates who were so close so many times and it was not given to them. This is also for them.”, he continued.
“I feel that God was saving this moment for me, against Brazil in the final and his country. Great credit has to go to (coach) Lionel (Scaloni). He always wanted the best for the national team. He knew how to put together a winning team and he deserves your appreciation.
“I needed to get rid of the thorn of being able to achieve something with the national team, I had been very close for many years. I knew that at some point it was going to go wrong, it was going to happen and I think there is no better moment than this.”
Although still with a lot of contenders, some likely, others unlikely, this win has surely raised him on the Ballon D’or list. If nothing at all, it has reduced his shortcomings.
