TIME FOR THE TIDE TO TURN

The picture of Ronaldo’s run towards the corner flag, waving his right index finger and flashing a toothy smile, from that celebratory evening in Yokohama hangs like a yellowing diploma on the wall.

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In twenty years, the collective memory of the world has shrunk to barely minutes if not less. Though a little fresher, but still gradually fading, is the image of Lionel Messi walking dolefully past the World Cup at the Maracana eight summers ago.

The 22nd edition of the tournament, one that was born out of Jules Rimet’s dream in 1930, is now a behemoth and the caravan will breathe the dry desert air of Qatar, for the first time in the Arabian Peninsula. And the sporting question that’s doing the rounds is whether the “winter” World Cup offers Brazil and Argentina an opportunity to break free from the clutches of European hegemony.

The football calendar worldwide has been brought to an abrupt halt mid-season to accommodate the quadrennial event and Europe is not impressed for more than one reason. Europe got snubbed in the last Finalissima, a one-match contest between the Euro winners and the Copa America champions. At London’s Wembley Stadium, Lionel Messi-led Argentina established their superiority beyond question over Italy.

The European champions missed out on the Qatar World Cup berth once again, after losing to North Macedonia in the qualifiers. In contrast, Messi, all of 35, is looking to crown his glorious career with the one trophy conspicuously missing from his over-stacked personal museum. The Undisputed is leading an Argentina side to Qatar on a 35-game unbeaten streak, which includes the Copa America final that helped him claim the only major continental trophy. They are undefeated since July 2019.