Lionel Messi lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy last December as the Paris Saint-Germain star finally won the silverware that had long eluded him in his football career.
Former Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo was a teammate of Messi’s during his lowest moments with the Argentina national team and shared what he felt when the 35-year-old won the World Cup.
“I remember we cried,” Rojo told TyC Sports. “It’s a mix, a strange feeling. Joy for many, for [Messi], [Angel Di Maria], [Nicolás Otamendi]. Thousands passed by and I I was with them. We lost the finals that we lost and it hurt us.
“Seeing that they made it is crazy. I told my wife, to think that we were up to this, to nothing. We had no luck. We screwed up Germany with balls and we didn’t wanted to go in.”
![Lionel Messi](https://icdn.psgtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/lionel-messi-argentina-v-australia-world-cup-2022-2-1.jpg)
Additionally, Rojo noted what was said between him and the older players on the national team that he played alongside since they’re all part of a WhatsApp group chat called “The Old Guard.”
“We are in the group of the old; there is [Sergio Agüero], [Messi], [Otamendi] … It’s called ‘The Old Guard,’ ” Rojo continued. “There are messages at the moment congratulating him. He sent photos in the locker room. Joy for [Messi].”
Rojo also revealed what type of leader Messi is since the veteran goal scorer had to show his leadership qualities to start the World Cup after Argentina had a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, Argentina had to face adversity in the quarterfinals against the Netherlands after giving up a two-goal lead. Then, in the final versus France, the South American side gave up another two-goal lead, so Messi’s leadership had to be displayed.
“He’s a great captain, always thinking about the group,” Rojo said. “He always put himself on a par with everyone. It’s what surprised me the most. I came to the National Team in 2011. I went, I trained with Messi, crazy. And then we were drinking mate, chatting, like anyone else.”