Albiceleste Madness

Argentina has never come to a World Cup with so many expectations to be crowned as it is now in the adventure that is coming to Qatar. There are culprits, of course. Messi and his hunger for the crown, Scaloni and his total coherence, the players who wear the shirt and keep the level as high as regular, the unbeaten in 35 games, the Copa América caught after beating the Brazil in the Maracana, the Finalissima that kneeled in Italy … There is a brutal identity in this National Team. An example of albiceleste madness can be seen in the need for cards: It cost more than a lot to get them and the Government had to intervene. Another obvious fact is related to the purchase of World Cup tickets: they are already sold out for the first round…

No one would have thought when this cycle began that this new Selection, with almost no associated surnames, would cause such a revolution. This deceitful Messi spreads to the extreme, placed as a leader at the disposal of a young group, integrated in that different context compared to their previous stages in Argentina, determined to show their fantasies even in less relevant matches.

then, When it comes to completing the World Cup album, Leo is of course one of the most sought after. Here, in Argentina, we call stickers figurines. And the figurine of 10, the extra, “Lionel Messi Legend”, is quoted with scary numbers. In Mercado Libre it is now offered for 60,000 pesos, over 423 euros!

Far from Messi, the second most anticipated is Emiliano Martínez. Dibu’s chrome is paid up to 4,000 pesos. Later, for Angel Di María, up to 3,000 were requested. By Lautaro Martínez, 2,000. By Rodrigo DePaul, 1750. And what about Scaloni, the DT who the AFA announced has renewed his contract through 2026? For another Lionel, a modest 250 pesos.

The problem is that the figurines are not easy to come by. Disappearing. They all claim. In kiosks they often buy. however, Panini distributes more in supermarkets and service stations. Then, a conflict arose between the trading card company and the newsstand union. And the issue has become a matter of state. The Government had to intervene through the Secretary of Domestic Trade, Matías Tombolini, which summoned both sides.

The drawback is that this meeting is posted by numbers from the secretariat’s official accounts. So, in a country with a exploited economy and with many open conflicts in the backgroundthe complaints for spending time on such a small problem increased and of course the memes.

This Argentina National Team loves, captures, captivates, inspires. It is therefore no coincidence that the albiceleste is one of the most sold tickets for the first stage. Tickets for the opening three matches are sold out. At the Argentine Embassy in Qatar they ensure that at least 25,000 Argentines will travel to Doha, although they believe that number will grow to 40,000. Messi and company will feel local.