Alex, a hockey player, may be the most ecstatic professional athlete in the world that Lionel Messi won the World Cup. Ovechkin, a longtime follower of Messi’s, is obviously thrilled. Messi has delivered for Argentina in this tournament, especially after his two goals. Also penalty save in Sunday’s instant classic final against France. Three years ago, when Ovechkin reached 1,000 games in the NHL, his teammates gave him a Messi Barcelona jersey as a gift.
Ovechkin celebrates Messi’s World Cup win
Having won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in Ovechkin’s 13th NHL season. Messi winning the World Cup in what is likely his final opportunity at age 35. There are many parallels to be drawn between the two achievements. The way that Ovechkin was the engine behind the Capitals’ inaugural championship run. He earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Messi dominated the tournament from start to finish, scoring the opening goal in each of the competition’s group stages and knockout rounds.
As one of the most successful teams in NHL history, Ovechkin and the Capitals celebrated their Stanley Cup victory by swimming in Washington’s fountains. For Messi to equal that in Buenos Aires, he’ll need to put on quite a display. Ovechkin is about to make even more history in his sport. While Messi is living out his childhood ambition.
He is only the third player in NHL history to score 800 goals. He is now one goal away from tying Gordie Howe for second on the all-time record. Also, two goals away from passing him. At the 2009 All-Star Game in Montreal, where Ovechkin and Howe met, the latter signed a photo that now hangs in Ovechkin’s home; Howe passed away in 2016.
“I was very excited,” Ovechkin said Monday. “Of course, everybody knows he’s my favorite player. To see finally he get his dream and win the World Cup, it’s pretty big for him and I’m very happy for him.”
“Yeah, but I don’t know how he’s going to celebrate,” Ovechkin said. “That’s a different part of the story.”
“It’s probably my top thing in my collection,” Ovechkin said. “Obviously, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky’s stick, Mario Lemieux’s stick, it’s probably the top one.”
