IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL IT'S OVER

                  IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL IT'S OVER

Egypt were playing Argentina, current World Champions,  in the pre quarter final of the World Cup football tournament 2026. The North Africans gave a masterclass. The South Americans seemed resigned to watch their World Cup dreams vanish. 

At the 79th minute of the 90 minutes' encounter, Egypt was up 2 - 0.

Like the wounded lion refusing to lie down, Messi roared with a resilience everyone knew he possessed.. Each of his teammates rose to the occasion. 

Paredes, whose name literally means 'Walls' prevented a third goal from Egypt. Then Cristian Romero powered a header past  Egypt's goalkeeper. Messi scored too. He scores every game now, breaking his own record each time. Finally, during stoppage time,  Enzo Fernandez slammed the ball into the Egyptian net. 

Enzo weeps after the match trying to describe Messi. Scaloni, the coach, who had also cried ptchside, said, he gets goosebumps just thinking about him.

Messi too wept at the final whistle where the score board read Argentina -3. Egypt -2. He seemed like a wounded beast able to breathe again, knowing fully well, it's not over until it's over.

French veteran, Thiery Henry reminisced.,"He gets a look in his eyes when things aren't going his way and he transforms and slams one, two, three goals."

The Messi factor is undeniable. Business needs him to keep eyes on the screen. 

Yet, the emotional response football elicits is real. And Messi is the most emblematic exponent of the art of the unthinkable. 

Egypt are giants. Their goalkeeper, Mostafa Shobeir, had saved many shots including a penalty from Messi. The crestfallen goalkeeper's legendary father had been instrumental in the creation of the back pass law. This is how the game constantly shifts and forges ahead. Ultimately it belongs to the people who play it and love it. 

Cruel, unfair, redemptive and divine.

While this World Cup is over for Egypt, Argentina remains for at least one more game.

An enduring image is that of Argentine Alexis Mac Allister, who couldn't bear to watch Egypt's Mo Salah heartbroken. 

"He is the second best player I've played with after Lionel Messi. I had to exchange shirts with him because this might be the last time seeing him or playing with him on the same pitch. I have learnt a lot from him. He deserves my respect for everything."

Mac Allister, on the pitch raised his arms above his head with Salah's red jersey held up high

Marcela Mora y Araujo, Argentine columnist based in London, 
in The Times of India of 9 July 2026

"Football like many games is deceptive. Victory doesnot belong to the team that gets most things right, but to the one that makes the fewest mistakes."

Javier Dale, Spanish Columnist based in Barcelona

in The Times of India of 9 July 2026

If Messi had never stirred your soul before, he probably did on Tuesday night. The end was nigh. But the horizon moved farther, or was pushed away by a Messi refusiing to fade away like a swan with a sad song. 

But Leo, whose unrequitted love for the World Cup ended in fulfilment in Doha almost four years ago, was the Lion King who had tasted the feast of success. That hunger, a hurried chase, with eyes only focussed on the goal, drove him to tear the improbable script apart and create a legend of his own, again.

Never mind that the Fates escorted him along the way."It gives me goosebumps," said coach Lionel Scaloni in wonder.  For Messi, the uncontrollable tears said it all. "We didn't want today to be the end, we didn't want to go home."

It seemed he had expeienced the circle of life within 90 minutes, moving him in despair and hope. Despair, then desperation after missing a penalty that could have tied the match at 1-1 and let  the match take its natural course.  Human yet again from the penalty spot. 

Then Egypt dealt the double hook.

The 39 year old Peter Pan and his band of Lost Boys were staggering, as the boat rocked back and forth in fast motion and the matchclock ticked towards 79 minutes.

The story book figure took flight again. Slinging the ball into the box for Cristiano Romero to power a header past Mostafa Shobeir, the hope surged back. Five minutes later Messi was magically at the right place in a scramble, striking in a half volley, whisking the Argentines away on a cloud of belief.

Seven more minutes and the twisting kaleidoscope moved them all in turns. Mo Salah believed he had a penalty in Martinez's box and quick counter resulted in Enzo Fernandez cushioning a header past a stunned Shobeir.

Messi had ensured the adventure continued.

Big boys don't cry, but they do!

How many times have we seen Roger Federer shed those winning tears, experiencing that release of emotions welling up inside?

On the court, on the pitch, you are immersed in the moment, trying to change history with a sleight of hand or feet. You are not meant to waver. When it's done, let it flow...

"I was very angry about the missed penalty, about how I kicked it. I felt that at an important moment I had let the group down. God once again had something special in store for me at the end," Messi said.

The cameras had earlier panned on a bare-chested Messi, the tattoo of Jesus with a "crown of thorns" on his right upper arm, looking up at the sky, eyes closed after his deluge of tears.

Throughout the East, tears are often associated with pearls. Their shimmering iridescence is believed to reflect the heavens. 

Pearls symbolize repentance and hope. 

Messi's dreams are still alive.

Moushami Bora, 'Tears of Messi, When the Big Boy Cries, It Stirs The World's Soul.....'

in The Times of India of 9 July 2026