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He wants to return the $50 he owed Messi 21 years ago
Amid the rift over Lionel Messi, Argentina is in turmoil. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has organized several events to commemorate Messi’s last match in the country’s World Cup qualifiers tomorrow. In this situation of mixed celebration and pain, many are reminiscing about Messi. Pablo Alvarado is one of them. He also has a special memory about Messi. Although it is not as sweet as others, when he remembers that memory, he feels ‘guilty’ of the former defender who played in domestic football in Argentina and Chile! He was once Messi’s teammate. That was a long time ago, the two played together in the Argentina U-20 team. In June 2004, with the South American U-20 Championship ahead, the Argentina U-20 team played two friendly matches with the age-based teams of Paraguay and Uruguay. The Argentina age-based team crushed Paraguay 8-0. Messi and Pablo played the match against Uruguay outside the country. At that time, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) gave $50 (6079 taka) as a travel allowance for age-based players traveling abroad. The person in charge could not separate the travel allowances for Messi and Pablo at that time. There was no change. Pablo was given a $100 note and told to give half to Messi. Listen to the rest in Pablo’s words, ‘They gave me a $100 note, which I had to share with Messi. Because they didn’t have change. I went to him and said, “Leo, you have to give half.” Since I didn’t have the change, he replied, “No, no, I won’t think about it.”
He wants to return the $50 he owed Messi 21 years ago
Pablo also told Argentine media outlet TYC Sports that he had ‘left the money’ Messi’s share at home. Pablo, who plays for Argentina’s domestic football team San Lorenzo, is now the assistant coach of the club’s reserve team. Pablo told the media outlet that he now wants to make Messi understand what he owes. The Inter Miami star has returned home with his family to face Venezuela in a World Cup qualifier tomorrow. Now Pablo doesn’t want to miss the opportunity, “He never asked me for it. I feel guilty. I still have the note. If he has the change, I will give it back to him.”
The news of Pablo’s $50 debt to Messi has been in the media before. This time, Pablo has brought up the issue of wanting to be debt-free again, and he also said something else, “He did it for the (country’s) jersey. Hopefully, this will continue for a long time.’ The 38-year-old Messi is now in the twilight of his career. Tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Venezuela in Argentina could be Messi’s last match in the national team jersey. Because Lionel Scaloni’s team has no more matches scheduled in Argentina until the start of the World Cup. However, it would be a different story if a match was organized for Messi.
After the Venezuela match, Argentina, which has already secured a ticket to the final round of the 2026 World Cup, will conclude the World Cup qualifiers by facing the host country Ecuador on September 10.
