Lionel Messi has insisted that it is “special” to see Argentina teammate Nicolas Otamendi receive a tattoo of him after their 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar.
Argentina, who won the 2021 Copa America title, bounced back from a shock opening defeat to Saudi Arabia at the World Cup to reach the final against France.
Lionel Scaloni’s men went on to secure Argentina’s third World Cup star with a thrilling penalty shootout win over the 2018 world champions.
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Messi scored seven times at the tournament in Qatar and narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot to Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe.
However, the PSG superstar secured his second Golden Ball at a World Cup and finally lifted the one piece of major silverware that had alluded him in his legendary career.
Messi ruled out international retirement after FIFA’s tournament and is expected to keep playing for Argentina at the 2024 Copa America and 2026 World Cup.
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Otamendi was a key figure in Scaloni’s backline for Argentina at the World Cup and played every single minute of the competition for his country.
The 35-year-old Argentina defender took to Instagram and shared a video of him receiving his latest tattoos, which included one of the World Cup trophy, one of Messi with his hand over the famous trophy and one of his teammate doing his iconic celebration.
Messi on Instagram Stories replied to Otamendi’s video by thanking the former Manchester City star for his tribute to him after Argentina’s World Cup campaign.
The Barcelona legend wrote: “I saw a lot of spectacular things that were done to because of the World Cup, but that a colleague, a friend like Otamendi getting this tattoo is something more than special!!!”
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“Thank you very much Ota!”
Argentina manager Scaloni has admitted that he is optimistic that Messi will represent his country at the next World Cup in North America.
“I think Messi can make it to the next World Cup,” he told Spanish radio Calvia FM in January.
“It will depend a lot on what he wants and what happens over time, that he feels good. The doors will always be open.
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“He is happy on the pitch, and for us [it] would be good.”
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Topics: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Football