Frenzy over a global football superstar: Mauritania's players and staff didn't want to let Messi go—security had to step in
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
The friendly match between Argentina and Mauritania at the Buenos Aires stadium ended with an extraordinary scene.
Details: Immediately after the final whistle, the entire African delegation—from starting players to substitutes and technical staff—literally surrounded Lionel Messi. Everyone wanted a keepsake photo or the legendary captain's shirt, prompting security to step in and help Messi leave the pitch.
The match itself in Argentina's capital proved to be a challenging one for the hosts. Lionel Messi started on the bench and only entered the pitch in the second half. By the time he came on, Lionel Scaloni's men were already in control with a confident 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Enzo Fernández and Nico Paz. The arrival of the “number ten” brought extra magic to the game, but Mauritania weren't intimidated by the maestro's presence and kept pushing for opportunities against Emiliano Martínez's goal.
The Mauritanian team showed real character in the dying minutes. In the 90+4th minute, the visitors clawed one back to make it 2-1, setting up a nervy finish. Despite the defeat, Mauritania's players couldn't hide their admiration for Messi.
Next up, Argentina will face another African opponent—Zambia.
Reminder: Inter Miami and Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul missed the match due to injury. The midfielder now risks missing the World Cup...
