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St. Petersburg (AFP) – When Lionel Messi ran around the corner and sank to his knees, the lingering image of Argentina in the World Cup Round of 32 was established.
Their number 10, in the blue and white bands, the head tilted and the vertical fingers, about to be submerged a few moments later worshiping the teammates.
But all these cameras that were not positioned in the St. Petersburg corner of Messi quickly turned their gaze up and slightly to the right.
Diego Maradona, his arms pressed against his chest, grimaced to the sky, a mad look of ecstasy, relief and delirium.
It was the duopoly of Argentina's 2-1 win over Nigeria on Tuesday.
No Messi and Marcos Rojo, the scorer of the win in the 86th minute, nor even Messi and Jorge Sampaoli, the former coach of the team.
But Messi and Maradona. On the field, off the field, present and past. One trying to win the trophy that escaped him in an extraordinary career, the other watching over, having had his own story set by him.
– Inspiration or distraction? –
It's unclear how the hysteria surrounding Maradona really affects the team, though its more and more disturbed presence is a source of inspiration, sympathy or discomfort.
But while Argentina rallied to escape Group D, one of the game's most magical players, perhaps its biggest icon, was in the stands, only prevented from tipping over by two of his entourage at his side.
He was sitting asleep in his seat, seemingly dozing, then later, his nerves clenched, his hands clawed.
When Rojo's volley hit the net, the performance was completed by two middle fingers lifted and an obscene insult shouted, the intended target apparently no matter who would watch.
Broadcasters should treat Maradona more sensitively in Saturday's quarter-finals against France. Accompanying every significant action with a 57-year shot may be made for compelling viewing, but his health can not be taken lightly.
After the match, a video emerged of him being helped in the dining room of his VIP box, apparently indisposed. Photos showed medical staff who treated him, one of them seeming to take his pulse.
On Wednesday, Maradona wrote on Instagram: "I want to tell everyone that I'm fine, that I am not and that I was not hospitalized."
Claudio Tapia, the president of the Argentine federation, may wonder if the histrionics of Maradona are damaging to the team, and Messi, as well as himself.
– Constant comparisons –
Every time the World Cup arrives, Messi is surrounded by the shadow of Maradona.
Thirty-two years after one Argentine striker hoisted the trophy, another should do the same.
"We say that if Messi does not win the World Cup, he will not be superior to Maradona," Tapia said shortly after the arrival of Albiceleste in Russia.
"But I think these are comparisons that should be left out."
When Maradona attacked Sergio Ramos last week, qualifying him as inferior to Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid, the Spanish defender fought back with an insult that he thought was clearly profound.
"In Argentina, they know that Maradona is light years away from the best Argentine player in history who, for me, is Lionel Messi," said Ramos.
Between Messi and Maradona themselves, there was only reverence.
Messi described Maradona as his "inspiration" while only this week, Maradona sent a personal message to Messi, saying: "Nothing is your fault, I love you and I respect you as always . "
But for Messi 's discreet and unpretentious genius, this current circus of Maradona must feel more invading than ever, more than when Maradona was the coach of Argentina in 2010.
Then they were both in the same team, each one inside, but now Maradona is the old favorite.
"The Argentine stereotype of the Argentinians is a discreet person, who does not speak too much, and that is the big difference with Maradona who likes to attract attention," said Alexandre Juillard, author of "Insubmersible Messi".
"In Argentina, they have an expression," Pecho Frio ", which means that when you have to be hot, you have to be cold, and that's the problem of Maradona."
Argentina's victory over Nigeria can, in the end, extend their stay at the World Cup only a few days. But as long as they are here, the problem of Maradona is also Messi's problem.
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