Aguero

The game carried on, as it does whenever great players retire. Barcelona would build its line around another great striker in Robert Lewandowski. Argentina ...

And, with Messi as the obvious centerpiece of the celebration, there was no more worthy support to carry soccer’s singular talent than the once-again roommate. At that point, whatever “weird situation” there had been at the start of the tournament had passed and Agüero’s reintegration was completed when he was asked to once again be Messi’s roommate and ensure their iconic talisman was in the right frame of mind ahead of Sunday’s final. [In a Twitch stream](https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=07vFqwrz5iA) during this World Cup, the retired striker learned that Messi had opted to have his own space rather than take in another roommate for the tournament. After Argentina’s win over Croatia in the semifinal, Messi gave Agüero his match shorts, which Agüero passed along to his son. Though Messi and Ángel Di María are among the nation’s most notable players, there was still a steep learning curve for the likes of Martínez, Álvarez and Enzo Fernández. After the Manchester City man’s interplay with Messi bore a less cagey match in the final third, he became the better option to lead the line for Argentina. “Today the game was not for Lautaro,” he said in ESPN’s studio coverage. While the Inter Milan striker started the ensuing win over Mexico, he was replaced by Álvarez for the Group C finale against Poland. I spoke with Chiqui (Tapia, Argentina Football Association president) and I was clear with him about my goal to enjoy my time,” Agüero told ESPN. Things got off to a rocky start for Agüero in Qatar, though. It’s a difficult role to embrace, but this went beyond playing the devil’s advocate; Agüero knew, better than most, why Argentina fell against perceived inferior opposition. He had just been a prized signing for FC Barcelona, but his impact was limited to just a handful of matches following a storied spell at Manchester City.