Rocky road for Higuain to resurrect Argentina career

TIL Desk Sports/ On the night Lionel Messi sensationally booted Argentina into next year’s World Cup finals in Russia, Gonzalo Higuain was watching thousands of kilometres away in Turin.

There was a touch of envy as the 29-year-old Juventus player took to Instagram to congratulate the national team: “Thanks a lot guys for taking Argentina where they should be, great effort, congratulations and enjoy.”

While in previous years his status was that of a business-class player jetting away for Argentina commitments to return to club duty at the last minute, now Higuain must adapt to another situation — the others go, he remains in Italy to work.

With three La Liga triumphs, one Scudetto in Serie A, and Cup triumphs in Italy and Spain, Higuain is hardly short of trophies. But he has missed out on some of the biggest prizes of all.

In the past three and a half years, Higuain has lost in the final of a World Cup, the Champions League and two Copa Americas. He was snubbed for the final round of 2018 World Cup qualifiers despite the uncertainty surrounding their qualification chances.