When Messi’s Teammate Almost Caused a Panic in Argentina’s Last Training

What Happened Before the Big Game

Argentina’s final practice session before the World Cup final was a very big deal. Here is why:

• It was the most important practice because the stakes (what was at risk) were huge.
• It might have been Lionel Messi’s last ever training session with his national team.

So everyone was paying close attention.

The Scary Moment in Training

For a short moment, the whole team “held its breath” (felt nervous and quiet). This is what went down:

• Nicolás Otamendi, a defender (a player who helps stop goals), went in for a strong challenge (a move to take the ball).
• He nearly “committed treason” (a funny way to say he almost hurt his own teammate on purpose or by accident).
• Messi had to quickly jump out of the way to avoid a bad crash.
• The danger passed, and nothing bad happened.

Why It Was Such a Nightmare Idea

Even though Messi was safe, people could not help imagining the worst:

• What if Argentina lost Messi right before the World Cup final?
• And what if it was because one of their own players caused it?

Important Point: If that tackle (the challenge) had actually hit Messi, Argentine fans might have jokingly said Otamendi should be “sent to jail” for hurting their star player!

Summary

Before the World Cup final, Argentina had a super important training that may have been Messi’s last with the team. During it, teammate Otamendi made a scary challenge that Messi barely avoided. No one got hurt, but fans joked he’d be “jailed” if he had taken out Messi before the big match.

FAQ

1. Who is Lionel Messi?
He is a famous football player for Argentina and one of the best ever.

2. What is a World Cup final?
It is the last match of the World Cup tournament to decide the champion.

3. What does “held its breath” mean here?
It means the team felt nervous and silent for a moment, worried something bad might happen.

4. Did Messi get hurt?
No, he moved away in time and was fine.