Sebastián Saravia, a psychologist, put it bluntly: what millions of Argentines feel after the World Cup final is not an exaggeration, it is real grief. And he says it resembles the loss of a romantic relationship.
Twenty years of watching Messi play in every World Cup create such a strong bond that the brain reacts the same way it does to a breakup. “It’s twenty years, it’s more than a relationship”, Saravia explained.
That is why social media was filled with tributes, farewell messages, and even unfounded theories seeking to explain the defeat against Spain in New Jersey.
But there is one detail that changes everything: Messi never announced his retirement from the national team. Saravia draws a distinction between “Messi with the national team” and “Messi with the World Cup”. That may be where everyone’s hope lies.