Mystery solved: Messi’s full team talk and Argentina’s secret chats | OneFootball

48 hours after the World Cup final, the full video of the Argentina National Team heading out to the pitch at MetLife Stadium came to light, shedding light on the many theories and speculations that had emerged on social media. The footage, released by ESPN, makes it possible to reconstruct the squad’s entire route from the locker room to the tunnel, providing the necessary context to a moment that had gone viral in fragmented form after the defeat to Spain.

The focus of the controversy had centered on a phrase from the captain before leaving the locker room: “Stay calm. The important thing is that we stay calm. Let’s forget everything. Let’s just play. Let’s think only about playing”. The full footage shows how the team moved forward in silence for a long stretch through a hallway branded by FIFA, making it clear that Leo’s “let’s forget everything” was an attempt to shield the group from the outside pressure of a world final.

Tactical instructions before facing Spain

Throughout the walk, the players held intense conversations about the European side’s game plan. One of the most active was Emiliano Martínez, who passed on a specific recommendation to Cristian Romero about the opponent’s pressing: “It’s two against one. If you go wide, with Lamine Yamal they’re going to press you. Watch for that through ball inside if it’s there so you can turn one way or the other,” Dibu told Cuti.

Shortly after, Lisandro Martínez stepped in to warn about Spain’s attacking movements: “We have to be careful when they cut inside because they always try to open up their foot, right?” he told the goalkeeper. After Dibu agreed, Licha gave Nicolás Tagliafico, who was tasked with marking the Spanish wonderkid, a forceful pep talk: “You’re going to erase him. You’re going to erase him the whole game.” Immediately afterward, he turned back to the keeper to reinforce his confidence: “Come on, Dibu, stay solid on every play. Get it into your head. Catch every ball.”

Messi’s request and a prophetic phraseIn another section of the hallway, Messi spoke up again to adjust the midfield balance, anticipating the possession dominance the opponent would try to impose. “When they come by, tell Leandro and Enzo not to push forward,” he told Cuti Romero so he could pass the message on to Paredes and Fernández.

Toward the end of the walk, just before stepping onto the field, a conversation between Cuti and Dibu was captured that took on special meaning in hindsight. “Your moment has arrived,” the defender told him. “Today is my day. Today will go down in history,” the goalkeeper replied, and he would end up being one of the standout players of the match with decisive saves despite the unfavorable result.

The final seconds of the footage show the Albiceleste reaching the end of the tunnel and crossing paths with the Spanish players. There, Messi warmly greeted several opposing footballers, including Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Fabián Ruiz, before leading the ceremonial line in what was the third World Cup final of his career.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.