Messi, a tragic hero

The free-kick came in stoppage time of extra time and the ball looped high over the bar. It was miserable confirmation that there would be no coronation for Lionel Messi in the Maracana.
In truth, Messi's big moment had come over an hour earlier. After expertly collecting a short pass, the Argentina No.10 ran clear down the left channel and saw his whipped shot beat Manuel Neuer only for the ball to also fly past the far post. Fine margins that some will have define a great career.
Indeed, the frustration that Messi had failed to produce the perfect narrative soon seemed to give way to anger when the losing captain was asked to receive the Golden Ball as FIFA's outstanding player of the tournament. Understandably so given the defeat, he appeared embarrassed.
Messi's brilliant performances in 2010 soon became characterised as 'not doing it' at a World Cup by the time only the scores and scorers were remembered. And in 2014, one wonders how quickly 'not his best' will be regarded as simply 'bad'.
So it's worth remembering that Messi was statistically superb at this World Cup.
It's cruel to be compared to Maradona. It's crueller still to be adjudged a disappointment due to an unfavourable comparison with your own self.
Messi will be 31 when the World Cup final comes around in 2018. This was his moment and he failed to win the World Cup. But Messi is no failure. And right now, that's worth remembering in the rush to denigrate his amazing achievements.-    — Internet