It's bizarre how long it took Argentinians to learn to love Leo Messi. His exile from his declining homeland always made him suspect. The comparison with Maradona hung over him from the start. And why was he hardly ever as good for Argentina as he was for Barcelona? We tell the story of the world's best player's complex relationship with his own country, and how it finally had a happy end. Timestamps: 00:00:02 - Introduction 00:01:18 - Messi's fraught relationship with Argentina 00:06:24 - Messi as the embodiment of the Pibe archetype 00:11:36 - Messi's early international career and struggles with Argentina 00:18:52 - 2014 World Cup and Argentina's attempt at a "Messi strategy" 00:24:06 - 2014 World Cup disappointment and Messi's frustrations 00:29:19 - Psychoanalysis of Messi's perceived lack of Argentinian-ness 00:36:58 - Messi finally wins Copa America in 2021 00:39:35 - 2022 World Cup in Qatar and initial struggles 00:40:24 - Argentina's resurgence and Messi's leadership 00:42:15 - Winning the 2022 World Cup as a team 00:44:26 - Messi's place in Argentinian history compared to Maradona 00:46:10 - Speculation on Messi's life without football 00:48:02 - Would the hosts want to hang out with Messi? Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action? By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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