In the short story “El Aleph” by famed Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges, the eponymous character is a mysterious point in space that encompasses all other points in the universe, allowing anyone observing it to see every place on Earth from every angle simultaneously without distortion.The giant of Latin American literature, who died on June 14, 1986, eight days before Maradona’s two mythical goals against England and Argentina’s eventual victory at the World Cup in Mexico, said that a man was both a victim and a streamer of fate.This Sunday, Lionel Messi – Aleph in the Argentinian football atmosphere – will seek the infinite in the finite in this place in New Jersey, where he decided to quit football ten years ago amid loneliness and failure. The flow of his fate has brought him to this point and captivates us with its rhapsodic and redemptive veneer.However, Spain will be there, searching for their own moment of truth in this dream space and placing Messi’s journey in this World Cup final in two parallel positions. On the one hand, there’s the country’s ample support for Messi’s upbringing; on the other, there’s a challenger who will be more than eager to wow the performers and indulge in reverie that we might only see ourselves.If this remains a painfully ambiguous point in the narrative, it also becomes a core driver of the competition, as it always draws us into a new possibility.It’s a Spanish final, but it’s more than just a game, a feast of emotional turmoil and enchantment, while allowing for so many subplots and such a thrilling intersection of ideas.In the history of the World Cup, the defending champion of the America’s Cup has never faced the European champion in the final. The “final decision” between the two continental kings was canceled in March due to the Gulf War. But it’s happening now on the grandest stage, with the highest stakes.This game is also full of possibilities.Spain’s pass-heavy tikitaka, with their fluidity and fantasy, depleted France’s ambitions in the semi-finals and will now face their opponents with Scaroneta’s counter-pressing and never-say-die attitude. It also draws attention to another convenient narrative that takes stock of their past and present. Spain’s collectivism – as de la Fuente said, “we just work as a team” – is now faced with Argentina’s joie de vivre in fighting for Messi.The Spanish team has remained unbeaten in 37 consecutive games in normal time and overtime and is unstoppable. Argentina have gone 14 games unbeaten and this brings them the ultimate test. It remains to be seen how Messi and his entourage turn the trip against Marc Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz and Rodri into a complex journey that spans the aspirations of both teams.The game of football often carries a level of mystique that makes it fold in on itself. Back in 2017, when Lionel Scaloni was working at the Spanish Football Federation Coaching Academy, he discovered Luis de la Fuente as a teacher from whom he would be more than happy to learn the trade.Two coaches who led their teams to immortality from the sideline may now be tempted to reflect on their shared past.
