Argentina football legend Mario Kempes has shared his thoughts on watching Lionel Messi play for the national team, highlighting the difference in Messi's game now compared to earlier in his career, according to Sportskeeda. In an interview with FIFA, Kempes noted that Messi is happier and fresher now because his teammates can shoulder the burden of responsibility, allowing him to focus on his own game.
"I feel calm because you know he can go and win you the game just like that. And he's a lot calmer now because he knows his teammates can shoulder the burden too," Kempes said. "They don't give him the ball all the time. They start moves and then give him the ball so he can score or pull a rabbit out of the hat. But until he gets on the ball in the final third, it's the rest of the team that does the playing."
Kempes, who helped Argentina win the 1978 World Cup, has watched Messi lead the team to several triumphs, including the recent Copa America victory. Messi, 37, has scored 109 goals and provided 58 assists in 187 appearances for Argentina, cementing his status as one of the greatest players in football history.
Kempes' comments highlight the evolution of Messi's game and the growth of the Argentine team around him. With a strong supporting cast, Messi is no longer the sole burden-bearer for the team's success, allowing him to play with a newfound sense of freedom and joy. As Kempes noted, this has made Messi a happier and fresher player, still capable of producing moments of magic on the pitch.