Opinion |
Narratives are a sport’s lifeblood. They shape a fan’s connection to the game, provide a hook for his or her obsessions, sustain the deep emotional investment and create space to set out stakes well ahead of time. If Lionel Messi can lead Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar this December, he will be a greater footballer than the late Diego Maradona.
But narratives are also fickle, self-serving, and often pre-ordained. They are neither objective nor fully quantifiable and do not provide room for luck, chance, and risk. They are more a supporter’s flight of fancy to overcome sporting uncertainty. If Gonzalo Higuain had buried the gilt-edged chance in the 2014 World Cup final against Germany, Messi would already be a greater footballer than Maradona.
