Had you been in Buenos Aires on Tuesday afternoon, you would have found the entire city delirious with joy. Thousands had taken to the streets, many clad in light blue and white, the colors of the Argentine flag. Many were wearing soccer jerseys with the number of its prodigal son, Lionel Messi, who has taken Argentina to the finals of the World Cup.

Messi is the Argentine-born soccer star (fútbol in Spanish), arguably the greatest to play the game. He’s spent most of his professional career playing for a Barcelona team.

Chances are were it not for a grandson, I would have only the faintest clue as to who Lionel Messi is and be paying scant attention to the World Cup.

Both grandchildren have played soccer in recreation leagues in Burns Bottom.

That program, run by the Columbus Soccer Association (CSA) in partnership with Lowndes County Recreation Department, has almost 1,000 kids and adults registered in its programs for the 2021-2022 season, says Tom Velek, director of coaching for the CSA.

Why hasn’t the US men’s team ever been a contender for the World Cup (The U.S. Women’s teams have won four Women’s World Cups.)?

In this tournament the U.S.A. team, which has yet to make a World Cup final, made it to the Round of 16 before being eliminated by the Netherlands.

Velek thinks we have too much structure.

“You go to every playground in every city and kids are playing basketball,” he said. “You go to the YMCA any day of the week and the basketball courts are covered up.”

You don’t see those pickup soccer games with American kids, he said.

“Our kids may play three hours a week,” he said. “You have kids in England, who play three hours a day.”

Our grandson became a Messi fan years ago. He wears Messi’s number 10 when he takes the field for his high school soccer team.

The best analogy I can think of to illustrate the Argentinian’s genius is Pete Maravich, who could do things with a basketball that would leave fans slack-jawed.

At 35 Messi is in the twilight of his career. His quest to win his first World Cup for his Argentina has become the overarching theme of this tournament.

With the next World Cup in 2026 (hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada), this is likely his last chance.

Just to provide some perspective and the world-wide appeal of soccer, NBC Sports quotes FIFA officials, who estimate 5 billion people are expected to watch the World Cup. Compare that with the Super Bowl, which drew 208 million viewers.

Tuesday the semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia was on all of the three TVs in Jose Elarba’s Arepas, a Venezuelan restaurant in Starkville.

Among those tuned in was Michael Miranda, a student pilot at Columbus Air Force Base. Miranda grew up in New Jersey. His dad, a pilot for JetBlue, is Argentinian; his mother was born in India.

“Not many places to watch soccer in Columbus,” he said.

The following day less than a dozen people gathered in Columbus at Munson and Brothers Trading Post to watch the France-Morocco semi-final.

As for Miranda’s prediction of the eventual winner …

“I would like to pick Argentina to win it, but I’m going to pick France,” he said.

When Messi made a pass through a defender’s legs to set up Argentina’s third goal against Croatia, Miranda said, “That’s the magic of Messi.”

Will you call your dad when this game is over? I asked.

“Of course,” he said.

For today’s final between France and Argentina (9 a.m. CST), a group of local soccer enthusiasts who call themselves the Columbus Hooligans will be hosting a “watch party” at the Princess, according to Velek. The event is open to all.

Birney Imes III is the immediate past publisher of The Dispatch.