Twitter erupted Sunday afternoon after a tweet resurfaced from a user who accurately predicted seven years ago that Lionel Messi of the Argentina National Football Team would win the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina defeated reigning champions France in the World Cup final in Qatar on Sunday in a penalty kick shootout following a 3-3 tie. The victory, led by Messi, capped a surprising comeback after an early loss to Saudi Arabia earlier in the tournament.
Amid an outpour of excitement and support worldwide for the team’s victory, soccer fans everywhere are shocked after a Twitter account @josepolanco10 prophesied Messi’s historic win in 2015.
“December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times. Check back with me in 7 years,” José Miguel Polanco, the name attached to the account, said on March 20, 2015.
December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times. Check back with me in 7 years.
— José Miguel Polanco (@josepolanco10) March 20, 2015
In the now-viral tweet, Polanco either used the power of prophecy by speaking Messi’s success into existence, or he somehow rendezvoused with Doc Brown and Marty McFly in “Back to the Future Part II” and glanced at McFly’s fictitious Grays Sports Almanac.
Either way, Polanco nailed the prediction on every point but Messi’s age — the soccer star turned 35 in June.
Earlier this year, Polanco posted a reply to his original tweet, saying, “the number of people who put the reminder in the tweet scares me, at the end of the year they are going to lynch me I am going to stay in Qatar with a tunic as the doc said” as translated from Spanish.
On Saturday, Polanco further tweeted, “Well this exploded so all I will say is that I was in Doha and the hope is bigger than ever, hay que CREER,” which translates to “you have to believe.”
Well this exploded so all I will say is that I was in Doha and the hope is bigger than ever, hay que CREER. Follow my Instagram @aworldcuplife and YouTube Channel A World Cup Life to see content from my 6th World Cup I travelled to. pic.twitter.com/ue3gXfSLO2
— José Miguel Polanco (@josepolanco10) December 17, 2022
One fan replied: “I’m checking back with you! The GOAT did it and ended the debate!”
Another replied: “This is just too weird man, how on earth did he get this so spot on?!”
Emotions ran high as Messi finally secured the trophy in what will likely be his last World Cup performance.
Before Sunday’s historic win, Messi said the 2022 World Cup would be his last after the semi-final victory against Croatia.
Messi reportedly has not made plans to retire from the sport because he wants to “continue playing as a champion.”
“It is impressive to end up playing a final,” Messi said. “There’s a long way to go for the next one, there are many years, and surely because of age, I won’t get to it.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said if Messi chooses to continue his career, he would stay with the team.
“He’s more than entitled to decide what he wants to do with his career,” Scaloni said. “It’s just such a privilege to coach him and to have him on the team. Everything that he transmits to his teammates, it’s just unparalleled. I’ve never seen a person who gives so much to their team.”
Messi was awarded the Golden Ball following the match, recognizing him as the tournament’s most outstanding player.
The celebration comes after much frustration when Messi nearly kicked a game-winning goal in the 96th minute from about 25 yards away.
The famed Argentinian player scored seven goals throughout the World Cup tournament.
As for Messi’s future, only time will tell — or perhaps José Miguel Polanco has an idea.
Dillon Burroughs contributed to this report.