Lionel Messi dedicated Argentina’s World Cup semi-final victory over England to the late Diego Maradona and claimed “up there, he is very happy”.
The defending champions secured a place in Sunday’s final against Spain with Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez scoring late goals to hand Argentina a 2-1 win after Anthony Gordon had given England a deserved lead 10 minutes into the second half.
Messi supplied the cross for Martinez’s winner and was instrumental in his side’s comeback. Afterwards, the Inter Miami star said he hoped Maradona, who died six years ago, was watching on from above.
“Up there, he is very happy,” he said. “It was beautiful today and surely Diego from above is enjoying it. For him, today was a very special day and we wanted to be able to give him this joy.”
Wherever he is, he is happy – Argentina hero Messi on Maradona
Messi, who was a member of the squad that played under Maradona as head coach, added to ESPN: “We are lucky to have had Diego. I am very happy to be living this moment and helping Argentina play a World Cup final, again. I never wanted to compare myself with him and I will never do it, for me he is the greatest of all.
“I know he loved me very much, we have shared beautiful and difficult moments together, as in the 2010 World Cup. He was in a very nice stage of his life there and we enjoyed it a lot. It was crazy to be in day to day with him, train, prepare the games, see our rivals. Today, wherever he is, he is happy.”
Maradona’s status in Argentina is largely down to his performance against England in the 1986 World Cup, a tournament that came just four years after the South American nation had lost the Falklands War to the British.
Maradona scored twice – the first a handball and the second a brilliant solo effort – to oust Bobby Robson’s side at the quarter-final stage.
“He showed the way at the time in that match against England and we followed in his footsteps,” said Messi.
Beating England is ‘not just another victory’ for Argentina
Argentina could face sanctions for celebrating alongside a flag that claimed the “Falklands are Argentinian” after the game in Atlanta and Messi admitted the match carried extra significance for him and the rest of the squad.
He said: “What we experienced from the beginning was incredible. Although it was a football game, when we entered the field and the anthem sounded we experienced special sensations.
“I think the group felt it and we knew it was not just another victory. The Argentine people wanted it and so did we. It’s crazy to play two world finals in a row. This group is amazing.”
