Is There a God in Soccer?

As Lionel Messi prepares to take the pitch in what will be his final World Cup appearance on Sunday, there’s another Argentinian legend that you should know about. Andres Cantor, the Spanish-language commentator for Telemundo known for his soulful call of “GOOOL”, will be in the booth for his 12th World Cup Final. In Latin America, he’s almost as much of an institution as the sport of soccer itself…and he’s about to call one of the most important matches in the history of his home country – and the most crucial of Messi’s iconic career. And we also call up NPR reporter Jasmine Garsd, who explains the rocky relationship Messi has had over the years with his fans in Argentina, and whether a World Cup victory will finally allow him to escape the shadow of Diego Maradona.

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