With 10 minutes to play of a World Cup semifinal, at the age of 35, there he was, scurrying down the wing, wriggling away from Gvardiol, his unstinting shadow all night, slowing down so he could beat him again, making it into the penalty area, slipping the ball back for Álvarez, turning to his fans, to his people, barcelona jersey 24/25 and accepting not so much their congratulations as their thanks. “We would have made history,” he added, referring to France’s chance to become the first team in a half-century to retain its World Cup title. In its immediate aftermath, as Argentina’s disconsolate players headed back by bus to their hotel, Messi demanded that his teammates remain united.