How do you know when you’re the best football player in the world? It’s probably when your own teammates queue one by one to get their picture with you and a trophy, right?
Barcelona won their first trophy in the Joan Laporta era on Saturday night and hammered Athletic Club 4-0 in the Copa del Rey final. Lionel Messi was in unstoppable form, dazzling in the first half and scored two wonderful goals in the second.
When did the youngsters from Barça want to immortalize the victory with Messi ?? # lequipeFOOT #AthleticBarca pic.twitter.com/quC8BKDmao
– la chaine L’Équipe (@lachainelequipe) April 17, 2021
The Barça players were so horrified by their devastating display at number 10 that they all decided to immortalize this moment forever by having their photo taken with their captain and leader, as shown in this video from L’Equipe.
Just like a group of small mascots nervously waiting to meet their favorite player, the Blaugrana stars reluctantly switched to the captain, who felt he was in for a long night. Fair play for the little man, but he did not break the hearts of any of his fanboys, greeted them all with a smile and gave them a picture they will cherish forever.
Messi probably calmed them down and asked them what they would like to be when they grew up and joked that he would cut himself like Riqui Puig after the match. Little Sergino Dest almost broke down in tears of anxiety, but a soothing hand on the shoulder from the magician and he was the happiest boy in the world.
Even Serie A winner Miralem Pjanic could not help himself – perhaps aware that he will probably not be pictured on a pitch with Messi at any time. Clement Lenglet watched, perhaps too scared to take the plunge and ask the captain to do him the honor. He will regret that moment for the rest of his life.
TODAY’S GAL It was not a dream … ?????? from #Messi & Copa del Rey champion! ? pic.twitter.com/7Gzq3ZcmO2
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 18, 2021
The reaction to this Lionel Messi fan club was mixed to say the least. Some thought it was a signal of how inspiring Messi is and how much his teammates love him.
Others, however, thought it was incredibly shrunken and a little embarrassing. But you can not deny that Messi’s position in the game is so great that even his superstar teammates went home and kissed their LM10 posters on the wall before falling asleep on Saturday night.
One day, when I grow up, I want to be Lionel Messi – or a caterpillar.
