Inter Vice-President Javier Zanetti is very happy for his compatriot Lionel Messi after yesterday’s triumph at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar with Argentina.
Speaking to Rome-based newspaper La Repubblica in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInterNews, the Nerazzurri executive gave his reaction to the Albiceleste’s victory in the final over France, particularly praising Messi.
Argentina are World Cup champions for the first time in over thirty years, having beaten the likes of Australia, the Netherlands, Croatia, and France along the way.
Messi captained the Albiceleste to the trophy, one which Zanetti had never achieved in his playing career, but which he is nevertheless immensely pleased for.
The 35-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward had already led Argentina as far as the World Cup final in 2014, but this time did one better, further cementing his reputation as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Zanetti gave his reaction to speaking with Messi, stating that “I went onto the pitch after, we hugged and laughed.”
“I told him that I was happy, that he deserved it, and that I thought it was his destiny.”
“He deserved this triumph more than anyone,” the Nerazzurri Vice-President said of Messi.
“Seeing him lift the World Cup was the image that I think the whole world was hoping for, it was right for a man and a player like him to be in this position.”
Reflecting on the time that it has taken Argentina to lift the trophy for the first time since 1986, Zanetti said that “Sometimes we’ve had bad luck, and sometimes met teams who have been stronger than us.”
“We’ve had great teams,” the Nerazzurri Vice-President said, “I personally have played with some world-class players.”
“But sometimes the decisive moments have went against us and knocked us out, that’s how football is.”
“But today we celebrate together,” he emphasized.
