Neymar wants to be accorded the status of a legend
Lionel Messi will feel this is his last chance to win a silverware for Argentina at senior level to cement his undoubted status as one of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen.
At World and continental levels, the Messi has failed to inspire Argentina the same way Diego Maradona did at the World Cup in Mexico in 1986.
Copa glory has evaded Messi narrowly — first in 2007 (against Brazil), and then in 2015 and 2016 (against Chile in tiebreakers).
Messi would remember the second of the shootouts vividly, when he kicked the ball over the crossbar. So gutted was he that he deliberated on retiring from international football before being talked out of the hasty decision.
There is also a feeling that the glory may elude him forever. If not now, Messi shall be forever considered inferior to Maradona in his ability to win tournaments.
Moreover, there is a sense of desperation, as Argentina have not claimed any significant title since the Copa triumph in 1993.
A 28-year-old period of hurt wherein several golden generations departed with unrealised dreams. And the brightest of their talents is at the risk of retiring without a single major trophy draped in an Argentina flag. There’s of course the World Cup next year but the clock is ticking furiously on Messi’s career.
Unlike Messi and Argentina, Neymar and Brazil aren’t running out of time.
Neymar is just 29 and Brazil have won the championship as recently as 2019. However, there’s growing frustration that Neymar is not winning enough trophies commensurate with his potential.
He is just five goals behind Ronaldo in the list of Brazil’s all-time goal-scorers and has raced ahead of legends like Romario, Zico and Bebeto, but has not yet been accorded the status of a legend himself.
His tantrums and theatrics have not gone down well with sections of Brazil’s feverish fan-base. A World Cup would be, no doubt, the Holy Grail but a Copa would be a good start. Any trophy would be better than no trophy.
More than the trophy, they would not stand losing to Argentina – of all teams – at their stomping ground, where they have not lost since 1950, winning 22 and drawing six matches at the Maracana.
Both teams come in terrific form too. Argentina are undefeated in 19 competitive games; Brazil in 18. Even without the shades of history, a high-class contest awaits. A contest wherein, they would keep friendships aside and put their body and soul on the line.
The Argentina-Brazil rivalry might be less violent these days, but it remains undiluted in its ability to stop the world, be a spectacle and weave multi-coloured narratives.