Diego Maradona was a picture of passion and excitement as he kissed a Lionel Messi Argentina shirt just before kick-off in the crucial Group D World Cup match against Croatia. The 57-year-old legend was seen jumping around in the VIP seats at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, playfully circling the shirt above his head before planting a kiss on it. A bodyguard stood nearby, keeping an eye on Maradona in case his enthusiasm got the better of him.

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Argentina needed a win to keep their hopes of topping the group alive, making Maradona’s kiss a potential good luck charm from one Argentine icon to another. Messi, who had missed a crucial penalty in Argentina’s 1-1 draw against Iceland, was looking to shake off that disappointment and lead his team to victory.

Argentina entered the tournament as one of the favorites but, like Brazil and Germany, had failed to win their opening match. Maradona’s spirited support was a reminder of the expectations placed on Messi, who had led Argentina to the World Cup final four years prior, only to lose to Germany.

The high-profile Messi-Maradona debate had also been reignited before the tournament, with Maradona claiming that Messi was merely replicating his past achievements. As tensions simmered, fans hoped to see Messi rise to the occasion and fulfill his dream of capturing the one major trophy still missing from his illustrious career: the World Cup.