Fernanda Quiroga still remembers Lionel Messi playing soccer on the dirt streets of a working-class neighborhood in Rosario, Argentina’s second largest city.

“Messi always kicks something, a ball, a bottle cap ,” Quiroga, who is 35 years old, is the same age as the captain of the Argentina team. ” My memory of him, because his house was right in front of mine, was going to buy cakes at his grandmother’s house and he was always kicking something on the street.”

Messi’s image appears everywhere in Rosario.

The excitement and anxiety of Argentines surged before the 2022 World Cup final, especially in Messi’s hometown. Everyone is looking forward to the moment when Messi finally wins the major title missing from his illustrious career.

“We were heartbroken when people said this was Leo’s last World Cup. So we all hoped he would win it, I think more for him than for the Argentina team itself . That’s more meaningful, because he has conquered a lot of love and respect ,” Quiroga said.

After defeating Croatia in the semi-finals on Tuesday, Messi said the final would likely be his last at a World Cup. The neighborhood commonly known as La Bajada has transformed into a Messi mecca, with murals praising the Rosario-born soccer star.

One graffiti read: “ From another galaxy and from my neighborhood,” and in the distance was a large mural of the 35-year-old superstar looking up at the sky. That is the wall on the right side of the old house where Lionel Messi grew up during his childhood days.

“The kid is very interesting. He doesn’t like to lose, but he’s a good kid,” said Marcelo Almada, a 37-year-old construction worker who used to play soccer with Messi on the streets around his home. This friend gets angry, he will grab the ball and take it somewhere else.

A picture of Messi looking up at the sky is painted on the large wall on the side of the house.

After every victory of Argentina, all the people here flock to the streets to celebrate until early morning. This neighborhood is like Messi’s mecca, with fans from all over the world visiting the former home of the 7 Ballon d’Or winner and the small soccer field in the corner where he practiced his first skills. become the greatest player of all time.

“I have been a fan of Barcelona and Messi since I was a boy. My dream is to see Messi win the World Cup,” said Niv Reznik, 23, an Israeli who went to Argentina with a group of friends to watch the tournament in the hometown of the soccer star who played 17 seasons for Barcelona. When Reznik and his group of friends arrived in front of Messi’s house, one of them knelt down.

The training ground of a football school where Messi used to practice as a child

A few blocks away, another person hoping for Messi to win is Andrea Liliana Sosa, 55, who was Messi’s math and science teacher in grades 5 and 6. The school Messi attended was also decorated. with large murals with the main image of the soccer superstar from Rosario.

“He was a quiet and obedient student, responsible for what he had to do at school and loved by his classmates, especially when playing football during recess. Sunday night win is something he lacks. Hopefully he can do it,” Messi’s former teacher said.

Across the street from the school, another large mural of Messi adorns an apartment building that has also become a gathering place for fans.

“We even saw people praying here ,” said Valentina Rota, 21, who lives in the building. ” There’s a sense of belonging because he was born here. He’s one of us, a neighbor.”

Diego Schwarzstein, the endocrinologist who treated Messi for growth hormone deficiency, is still in Rosario.