Argentina’s Lionel Messi finds Diego Maradona’s absence strange.

Diego Maradona is missed on the soccer’s biggest arena for the first time ever since the 1978 World Cup. As the South American squad has had a rocky start to the tournament, the squad could have used him more than ever.On Friday, Argentina and FIFA commemorated the second anniversary of Maradona’s death in Qatar.
Thousands of Argentina fans gathered in Doha’s historic Souq Waqif market to pay tribute to Maradona and show their support for the national team. They paraded through the streets waving the blue-and-white Argentina flag and chanting Maradona songs.We miss him terribly. He was always there for us, said Julio Valsi, 64. However, we can still feel him. I’m sure he’ll be keeping an eye on the national team from wherever he is. We urgently require his assistance.Without Maradona, Argentina is having a strange World Cup.Lionel Messi is expected to make his final World Cup appearance, and Argentina lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, a date that most Argentines will never forget. He died while under hospital care at home just after brain surgery, and state authorities are still investigating whether medical negligence was involved.Several tributes to Maradona were paid before the 2022 World Cup, both in Argentina and in Qatar.Messi, who is competing in his fifth World Cup, told FIFA ahead of the tournament in Qatar that it was strange, different not to see Maradona in the stands or people going crazy when he appears. He stated that he believes Maradona will always be present somewhere.Maradona performed in 4 World Cups from 1982 to 1994 and was the national team’s coach in 2010.The Argentine soccer association got the original jersey that Maradona wore in the 1986 World Cup as a present from Germany great Lothar Matthaus, who swapped jerseys with Maradona after Argentina’s 3-2 victory at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.Maradona led Argentina to the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before being eliminated by Germany.Messi, 35, is unlikely to return for another World Cup 4 years from now. And if he can’t lead this year’s team to a win against Mexico, Argentina’s 1st World Cup without Maradona will end without Messi as well.Comment your thoughts below.