Chapter 1 Blood in the jersey

In the heart of Rosario, where dusty streets echo with the thuds of makeshift footballs, a boy named Lionel watched old videos of Diego Maradona. His mother worried about bills; his father watched him juggle oranges and whispered, "He's different." Football wasn't just a game in Argentina-it was a religion passed from father to son, from street corners to stadiums.

Every child dreamed of playing in the blue and white. They didn't dream of fame-they dreamed of making their people proud. Argentina had tasted glory in 1978 and 1986, but those memories were fading. A nation with football in its DNA longed for another golden chapter.

Leo rose fast. Small in size, huge in heart. He moved to Spain for treatment, but Argentina never left his soul. As he grew into a legend at Barcelona, the nation looked to him not as a player-but as a savior.

But with every tournament came heartbreak. Finals lost. Penalties missed. Headlines blamed him. Fans wept in silence. Still, the boy from Rosario stood tall.

Because in Argentina, you don't quit. You fight. You wear the shirt like armor.

The world didn't know it yet, but Argentina's greatest story was just beginning. The blood in the jersey still pumped strong.