Desert Fest: Mystical forces at play

Argentina's run to the World Cup final has been nothing short of breathless, with a loss against Saudi Arabia in their opening World Cup game triggering a fight-or-flight response that has seen La Albiceleste come out swinging in each of their games since.

Their main man, Lionel Messi, has been in irrepressible form, contributing eight goals and assists in Qatar since that defeat while manager Lionel Scaloni, who appeared flabbergasted against the Saudi high-press, has made keen tactical choices ever since.

More crucial than either of those aspects, however, has been the impact of Lionel Messi's teammates such as Julian Alvarez, Rodrigo de Paul, et al. These players have changed the course of the tournament for Argentina, especially Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez, whose injection into the starting eleven breathed new life into team dynamics.

In 2006, Messi made his World Cup bow in a team that featured some of the brightest names in Argentina football: Pablo Aimar, Roberto Ayala, Walter Samuel, Juan Pablo Sorin, Hernan Crespo, Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Zanetti. It was a generation that had gone through heartbreak after heartbreak, defeated in the 2004 Copa America final, 2005 Confederations Cup final, a painful exit from that World Cup in Germany in 2006 before losing another Copa final in 2007. Some of these players are now coaches in the dugout, sharing their experiences and living their dream with the current generation.

That guidance is important, but more crucial is the fact that Messi's teammates appear willing to lay down their lives to give the legend the send-off he deserves with a World Cup trophy in hand. And why would they not be? Almost this entire team has grown up in the shadow of Messi's greatness.

De Paul, who has garnered the moniker of 'Messi's bodyguard', is 28 years old. As a 15-year-old, he watched Messi win his first Ballon d'Or. Julian Alvarez probably does not remember the 2006 World Cup as he was only six years old at the time. But he will remember, and is showing an eagerness, to right the wrongs of 2014, when a 14-year-old Alvarez watched Messi lose the World Cup final against Germany.

Goalkeeper Emi Martinez is 30 years old, yet he played no part in the 2014 World Cup. He only made his professional debut in 2012, by which time Messi had already claimed four Ballon d'Ors.

Given the intense passion with which Messi fans want to see him win, imagine those who have been his fans since childhood and are now sharing the stage with the star. Their desire to help him get to the dream must be unparalleled, especially considering they are in a unique position to influence that legacy.

But Messi is giving just as much back to them, if not more. Unlike in past years, when Messi was surrounded by players of his own generation and looked more reserved, he has taken on the mantle of a vocal leader and has had to completely lead the team on and off the pitch. Of course, the shouting and 'passion' against the Netherlands showed that he was not shy about doing so.

But he has done the little things throughout every match, instructing and directing, unnoticed.

A few seconds before Messi completely bamboozled Josko Gvardiol for Argentina's third goal against Croatia, you could see him ushering Alvarez to block Gvardiol and create a space to make the run, instructions that were followed exactly. Against the Netherlands, Molina was hugging the touchline and Messi noticed that Nathan Ake would track Messi to midfield, leaving spaces in behind. So, he told Molina to make runs on the inside instead and it worked a treat. Little details like that, plus the ethereal skills he possesses, were on full display in the semifinal against Croatia.

There has also been a supernatural wave sweeping across Argentina, with local media's obsession with 'coincidencias maradoneanas' -- links to 1986, no matter how tenuous, taken as signs that Argentina will take home the trophy for the first time since 1986. Examples include Morocco's qualification for the last 16 -- the first time they have done so since 1986.

Others include a game of cards the squad participated in before the 2021 Copa America. The players were told if they could each guess each card correctly, they would win the World Cup. They did, with Messi correctly identifying the 'cinco de copas' (the five of diamonds). Within days of that, a photo emerged of Maradona on a journey with the national team, sitting at a table with the cinco de copas in front of him.

A video even surfaced of an old television appearance where Maradona was a surprise guest. Behind him, as he sat and talked, was a poster that had the date 'December 18' -- the day of this year's final -- adding to the sense that something supernatural was happening.

For now, all we know is that Argentina have made it to the final, looking to be in better shape than ever. All they need now is one more performance. Messi, his teammates, fans and even the mystical forces of the world, seem hell-bent on making that a most memorable one.