Nearly 500 kilograms of the herbal drink that Lionel Messi enjoys was brought to Qatar by Argentina’s World Cup team.
It’s been said that defense wins championships, but the Argentine national soccer team is convinced that drinking mate, a traditional South American herbal beverage, will help them win the World Cup, Business Insider reports.
Messi has been instrumental in Argentina’s dominance at the premier soccer competition held every four years, scoring five goals and assisting on three more during his six matches played so far in Qatar.
Even though it was stunned by Saudi Arabia in its first game a month ago, the team has since bounced back with victories over Mexico, Poland, Australia, the Netherlands, and Croatia.
On December 18, Argentina will compete against whoever emerges victorious from the semifinal match between France and Morocco for the right to hoist the World Cup trophy and reign as champions for at least the next four years, 2026.
It’s possible that the way the team hydrates itself is one of the secrets to their success.
Argentina’s team reportedly brought 1,100 pounds (nearly 500 kilograms) of the beverage mate with them to the Middle East because they enjoy it so much.
A caffeinated drink known as mate, which is made from the dried leaves of the yerba mate plant, is widely consumed in many regions of South America. It can be consumed hot or cold, as tea or even as a soft drink; you can even drink it as a soda.
While the Uruguayan team brought 530 bottles of the beverage to Qatar, the Brazilian team only brought 26 pounds (12 kilograms) of it (240 kilograms). However, in order to not be outdone, Argentina traveled with more than twice as much equipment as Uruguay did.
Almost everybody” on the Argentina team drinks it. This includes Messi. They drank it after games, and even on the team bus while traveling to and from away games. It is like a ceremony.
“It’s as essential to us as water.”
Alexis MacAllister, an Argentine midfielder who is on the team for the World Cup but has not yet played in the competition, said in an interview with The Times: “I drink it more than anything to bring us together.”
The Argentine attacker Sebastian Driussi, who is 26 years old and currently plays club level soccer at Austin FC in the MLS, stated that nutritionists in his country claim that it “hydrates you.” Driussi currently plays club level soccer in the United States for Austin FC.
“It’s like water for us,” Driussi said in an interview with The Times. Everyone in the locker room guzzles it down before each game, especially right before warmups.
“Here in Argentina, we like to say that mate is the glue that holds friendships together.”
READ MORE: Is this finally Messi’s moment to achieve World Cup glory?
Should Messi be able to lead Argentina to a tournament victory over either France or Morocco on Sunday, it would be a long-awaited victory for a player who has won pretty much everything except the World Cup.
Even if it turns out to be a very bitter experience overall, the taste of ultimate victory would be sweet for Messi to experience.
