Dial M for Mbappe

 Dial “M” for Messi, Maradona or Mbappe, either ways “M” finally was crowned the King of Soccer on 17th Dec at Doha. Frankly I am not one of those diehard fans of Soccer leagues, don’t follow them, but yes occasionally do enjoy watching the wizards in action, as kids are almost addicted to European Leagues and are devoted to their Man U, Chelsea or AC Milan etc. Football as  we called it back then till the Yanks came with their American Football and the simple football became Soccer. It was amongst the cheapest game with just one football and couple of friends, space was also not an issue, a park, street, alley just about any place was good. Two teams would be divided, numbers could vary from two-three in each team to even ten - twelve. Even a classic football was not mandatory, cloth balls would do the trick. Somehow despite my best efforts my legs refused to obey my commands and my only consolation was of an “also ran” as I just ran around without even getting to get my foot on the ball. Let me clarify, I was a decent Squash and Tennis player as also Cricket and Hockey. Cricket and Hockey was ok as there we could use our hands also and I could sprint, but with football  I was simply a “push over” the shoulder push being the killer as I was literally pushed out of the field being a super light weight skinny fellow. 

In NDA Wing, being a Rimcollian and not opting to play football was considered shamming by Flt Lt Grewal, our Directing Staff. So here I was appointed the Captain of the “seventh” string Football team of Mike Squadron. I don’t recall if there was an eighth string, so obviously seventh was the bottom of the pile and all of us were novices when it came to football. It was a rainy day, the field was all slushy, most of us were slipping and falling and in the melee my attempt to take a swing at the ball, I was airborne for a few seconds and then fell on my left hand with my wrist dangling as though it had decided to part ways from the rest of the body. But the show must go on so I was escorted out of the field and the game continued. After the whistle, the PT instructor who was supervising the game came over, took a look at the wrist and asked for the ambulance. That fracture put an end to any further forays on the Football field while at NDA. In the Army,  however, we have little choice when it comes to troop games and so each one of us becomes a Footballer, Basket baller or even Volleyballer and naturally  I  too did venture on the field on many an occasions. 

Anyway, this is not the time to discuss  my forays in Football but to talk about mesmerising Messi,  Maradona and Mbappe. In 1986 FIFA World Cup which most of us would recall as Maradona’s world cup and the last time that Argentina took the cup home. That was the first Soccer World Cup we got to watch live on TV and I distinctly recall Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal in Semi finals against England.  It was the second  goal where he dodged three defenders and ran from the midfield, beat the goalkeeper  to score the goal which was a dream like sequence still live in my memory.That he was brilliant is beyond doubt but that "Hand of God" was a blemish in his otherwise outstanding career as a footballer. As an individual he had other run ins with drugs etc, but when it comes to Lionel Messi, there is no messing around, he is just too good, and deservedly was rewarded by this Trophy at the zenith of his professional sporting career. Although he did score three goals in the finals but age is catching up, purely on stamina and speed the French were miles ahead but skill in the field the Argentinians held sway as was evident to anyone in the first about 60 minutes of the game. Just when it seemed that the French were outclassed, the cool composed Mbappe turned the tide almost single handedly in precisely 97 seconds with his back to back goals. This was followed by the equaliser when everyone thought Messi had sent in the winning goal in the extra time. 

This guy Mbappe is destined for further greatness in days ahead, he is not just good, he is too good and just 24 years old so we will have the privilege of watching his histrionics in the next decade as well. What about us Indians, do we continue to be the “Begani shadi main Abdulla”, last heard there were violent clashes in Kerela over rival factions supporting France and Argentina. Someone quipped the closest that an Indian came to the FIFA  Trophy was Deepika Padukone while unveiling the trophy. Guess what was she doing there, obviously FIFA recognises the moolah which Indians can bring into the game as evident from the superlative success of IPL Cricket, so don’t be surprised if Indians make their debut within the next decade. That should be good news to Soccer aficionados for obvious reason…..so here is hoping for the best!!!!