It is now the stuff of football lore how the ruling deity of the beautiful game, Lionel Messi missed that penalty shootout in the final of the Copa América and lost to Chile and how he announced his retirement soon thereafter. The decision to quit caused heartburn for millions and within minutes of the announcement, the Messi retirement meme was everywhere, with some strangely fitting references being made to Pak cricketer Shahid Afridi as well:
The first reaction was sorrow, dismay and desolation
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“Lio Don’t Go!” seemed to be the message all the world was sending the man. “No te vayas Lio” Please! Please!, said social media posts (#NoTeVayasMessi was trending on Twitter) as well as posters of fans that greeted their team as it returned home to Argentina.
Brexit, Mexit
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Now if the world was talking about Brexit, Mexit (Messi Exit) was just waiting to trend!
Fans were pleading
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Social media predictably erupted in an orgy of mourning at Messi announcing retirement, promising everything from forgiveness to redemption. This one translates as “You can lose a thousand more finals and I’ll still be on your side. Without you we are nothing, please stay.”
It’s the end of an era, a legend
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So deeply do fans worship this footballer that Messi quitting is seen as the end of the world an era/ legend.
Maradona also wants him to stay
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Another football legend, also an Argentinean, Diego Maradona wants him to stay as well. With an eye on the world cup in Russia in 2018, Maradona said Messi must go on.
Some were less forgiving of course
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Many thought that there was no need to mourn the man who let his country down repeatedly.
But the devotees hit back at the haters
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Clearly they love him. Truly, deeply, madly.
He cried
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But his fans forgave him for his emotional outburst… apparently even gods have emotions, they said.
Shahid Afridi was added to the mix
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Cricket’s great prodigal son; he who has announced his retirement and subsequent comeback too many times to keep track of, was predictably pulled into the fray.
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Author – Reena Daruwalla
