In the 2022 World Cup, Argentina orchestrated a triumphant strategy by putting what they call “Ferraris” around their star player, Lionel Messi. The Albiceleste claimed the global title in Qatar, with Messi’s stellar performances leading the team to victory.
Highlights:
Messi’s Stellar Performance: Lionel Messi showcased his brilliance throughout the tournament, scoring in every knockout game, including two crucial goals in the final against France.
Strategic Approach: Argentina’s coaching team, led by Lionel Scaloni, strategically surrounded Messi with top-notch midfielders. Matias Manna, a video analyst on the coaching team, revealed that providing Messi with a team boasting skilled midfielders was a key strategy.
The ‘Ferraris’: Manna referred to players like Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Gio Lo Celso as “Ferraris” – agile and skilled players who could both stop and accelerate. This approach allowed Messi to conserve energy at times while others did the running for him.
Messi’s Insight: Before a crucial match against France, Messi shared his insights on an opposing player who constantly outplayed the French right back. This information influenced the decision to place Angel Di Maria strategically, proving to be a game-changing move.
Historic Decision: Manna emphasized that Messi’s influence on tactical decisions, like placing Di Maria strategically, was crucial and perhaps the most important decision in the history of Argentine football.
Post-World Cup Success: Following the World Cup triumph, Messi secured his eighth Ballon d’Or and is now a contender for the 2023 FIFA Best Men’s Player award. He has also embarked on a new journey with MLS side Inter Miami in 2024.
Argentina’s success in the World Cup was not only about Messi’s brilliance but also about the strategic approach of building a team around him with the right mix of talented players, often referred to as “Ferraris.”
