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A quick warning before we start today's show.

This episode contains explicit language.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was supposed to be Leonel Messi's Cup.

The Argentine national team's very first game against Saudi Arabia was predicted to be a win that would set the team off on the right foot.

I woke up at 4 a.m. to see the game live from my house in New York.

A neighbor came in her pajamas to watch it with me.

Of course, things didn't turn out quite as expected.

After a historic 2-1 loss for Argentina, my phone blew up, I was bombarded by Argentine friends living abroad like me who were angry and disheartened.

Tristissimo, voluda.

Tristissimo.

Tristissimo.

So sad, so sad.

My friends kept sane.

Well, kind of expected, some other friends said with resignation. This is how things often go for us.

See, if you've been paying attention to our podcast, you know this is not Messi's first stumble with the Argentina national team.

It's more like a constant, awkward dance they do. And things have been much, much worse.

In fact, a few years ago, the relationship between Messi and the national squad became so

acrimonious. They almost went their separate ways. It happened during the Copa America 2016.

After World Cup, a Copa America is the most important trophy for any national team in South America.

At that point, Argentina hadn't won it in over two decades, and that year, we had made it to the final.

The national team was facing off against Chile.

...