'Argentina wanted to honour Maradona with victory against Chile'
Published: 03:06 PM,Jun 04,2021 | EDITED : 07:06 PM,Jun 04,2021
Argentina's Lionel Messi in action with Chile's Erick Pulgar. --- Reuters
Berlin: Lionel Messi said Argentina wanted to win a 'very special match' against Chile in World Cup qualifying as Diego Maradona was honoured with a statue prior to kick-off on Thursday.
Argentina and Napoli great Maradona - widely considered to be one of football's greatest ever players - died at the age of 60 after suffering heart failure in November last year.
A World Cup winner with Argentina and two-time Serie A champion during his time at Napoli, Maradona was at the centre of a touching tribute as Messi and the La Albiceleste players gathered outside Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades to unveil a statue of the country icon before the 1-1 draw with Chile.
Messi's 24th-minute penalty was cancelled out by Alexis Sanchez 12 minutes later in Argentina's first match since Maradona's death and the six-time Ballon d'Or winner reflected on the occasion.
'It was a very special match because it was the first without Diego,'Messi said after the match.
'We know what the national team meant to him, even if he wasn't in the stadium, he was always there.
'For being the first without him and because of everything that is happening in the country and in the world. It is also a pity thatthere was no public.
'We wanted to give Diego the victory and represent the national team as he always did, leaving everything behind, but we have to continue.'
Messi improved his internationally tally to 72 goals thanks to his spot-kick and came close to restoring Argentina's lead on numerous occasions, including a free-kick that struck the post inside the final 10 minutes on home soil.
'It has been a long time since we got together, it is not easy to get back together with little work,' said Messi, whose Argentina are 12 games unbeaten as they gear up for the Copa America, due to start on June 13.
'We continued what we had been doing, at times we were good, we played a good game.' -- dpa
Argentina and Napoli great Maradona - widely considered to be one of football's greatest ever players - died at the age of 60 after suffering heart failure in November last year.
A World Cup winner with Argentina and two-time Serie A champion during his time at Napoli, Maradona was at the centre of a touching tribute as Messi and the La Albiceleste players gathered outside Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades to unveil a statue of the country icon before the 1-1 draw with Chile.
Messi's 24th-minute penalty was cancelled out by Alexis Sanchez 12 minutes later in Argentina's first match since Maradona's death and the six-time Ballon d'Or winner reflected on the occasion.
'It was a very special match because it was the first without Diego,'Messi said after the match.
'We know what the national team meant to him, even if he wasn't in the stadium, he was always there.
'For being the first without him and because of everything that is happening in the country and in the world. It is also a pity thatthere was no public.
'We wanted to give Diego the victory and represent the national team as he always did, leaving everything behind, but we have to continue.'
Messi improved his internationally tally to 72 goals thanks to his spot-kick and came close to restoring Argentina's lead on numerous occasions, including a free-kick that struck the post inside the final 10 minutes on home soil.
'It has been a long time since we got together, it is not easy to get back together with little work,' said Messi, whose Argentina are 12 games unbeaten as they gear up for the Copa America, due to start on June 13.
'We continued what we had been doing, at times we were good, we played a good game.' -- dpa