摘要：At the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup on Thursday in Atlanta, with the event still in its infancy, that old saying was tossed
【注：精选英文原文，自行翻译，文章结尾附有精选词汇、高阶短语及翻译，您若喜欢请点赞、关注、转发，谢谢】
There’s a well‑worn cliché in soccer: No player is bigger than the club.
-CNN
At the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup on Thursday in Atlanta, with the event still in its infancy, that old saying was tossed to the side and replaced by a question on the lips of the 31,783 in attendance – can a player be bigger than the tournament?
在本周四于亚特兰大启动的全新扩军版国际足联俱乐部世界杯上，赛事尚处于起步阶段，那句老话被抛诸脑后，31,783名观众心中浮现的却是一个疑问——球员能否比整场比赛本身更重要？
The soccer star in question, of course, was a certain Lionel Andrés Messi, for whom the masses had made their pilgrimage to worship, as his Inter Miami took on Portuguese giant FC Porto in the second matchday of Group A.
被热议的那位足球巨星，当然是莱昂内尔·安德烈斯·梅西。正因为他，众多球迷远赴现场“朝圣”，观看他的迈阿密国际队在A组第二轮对阵葡萄牙劲旅波尔图。
But until a magical Messi moment in the 54th minute, the match was in danger of becoming a mere sideshow to supporters expressing their admiration – actually, more like unbridled passion – for the 37‑year‑old who has long cemented his status as one of the greats of the sport.
但在第54分钟那一刻梅西上演“魔法”之前，这场比赛几乎沦为球迷表达敬仰的一场“副戏”——更准确说，是对这位37岁传奇球星无拘无束的热情。他早已稳固地奠定了自己作为足球伟人的地位。
And let’s face it: winning nearly everything of note for Barcelona and Paris Saint‑Germain – as well as his country of Argentina, who is the reigning World Cup champion – doesn’t exactly hurt his case.
说实话，凭借在巴塞罗那和巴黎圣日耳曼几乎赢遍所有重要荣誉，再加上带领阿根廷国家队夺得现任世界杯冠军，这些成就无疑让他更具说服力。
Ahead of kickoff outside Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, it was evident how the pull of Messi knows no limits – or rather miles. While there were supporters from Atlanta in attendance, CNN Sports spoke with families from Louisiana, Alabama, Charleston, Washington DC, and Buffalo, as well as Puerto Rico and Dublin, Ireland.
在梅赛德斯‑奔驰体育场外的赛前，人们明显能感受到梅西的影响力无远弗届——或者说跨越千里。除了亚特兰大本地球迷，CNN体育还采访了来自路易斯安那州、阿拉巴马州、查尔斯顿、华盛顿特区、布法罗，以及波多黎各和爱尔兰都柏林的观众家庭。
They had made the journey for one reason, despite one fan doing his best to convince all in earshot, including himself, that “we are here for the football!” Inside, when Messi was introduced 30 minutes ahead of kickoff, the roar from the fairly sparse crowd resembled an environment more in keeping with a sold out stadium.
他们此行目的只有一个，尽管有一位球迷还试图对周围人（包括自己）强调：“我们是来看球的！”入场后，当梅西在开球前30分钟亮相时，稀疏的观众席竟爆发出近乎爆满体育场的轰动欢呼。
It went up a couple of notches when he walked out again to a fuller house, as the players made their individual entrances to the field, seemingly a nod towards the Americanization of the sport – as FIFA President Gianni Infantino told CNN Sports’ Coy Wire recently, this tournament will deliver “63 Super Bowls in one month.”
当他再次走上球场，全场人声鼎沸，似乎在暗示这项赛事正朝着美国化迈进。正如国际足联主席詹尼·因凡蒂诺最近对 CNN 体育记者 Coy Wire 所言，本次赛事将带来“一个月63场超级碗”的盛况。
Upon kickoff, with seemingly every touch of the ball from the eight‑time Ballon d’Or winner, the sounds from the stands ranged from “ooh’s” to whistles, with the “Me‑ssi!” chant the most popular.
开球一刻，这位八次金球奖得主的每次触球都引发看台上的“哦～”与口哨声，而“Me‑ssi！”的呼声最为热烈。
It was bordering on surprising that the crowd didn’t serenade the Argentine with a chorus of “Happy Birthday” given the Barça legend turns 38 on Tuesday.
令人有些意外的是，现场并未齐声为即将于下周二迎来38岁生日的巴萨传奇演唱“生日快乐”。
The match was a slow‑burner, but exploded into life in the second half. Inter Miami found itself a goal down at the break, courtesy of an early penalty from Porto’s Samu Aghehowa.
比赛节奏缓慢，但下半场瞬间燃爆。波尔图的萨穆·阿格霍瓦早早为对手赢得点球，半场结束时迈阿密国际以0比1落后。
After the spot kick was converted, Messi’s reaction from near the center circle was to keep his hand firmly on his hip and not move a muscle for a good 10 seconds in a manner which suggested: “This wasn’t the plan.”
点球成功后，梅西站在中圈附近，双手叉腰，僵硬定格了约10秒，仿佛在传递：“这不在计划之中。”
Just two minutes into the second half, Telasco Segovia’s smart finish flew past goalkeeper Cláudio Ramos to level the score, and seven minutes later, Messi stepped up. In every way.
下半场刚开始2分钟，特拉斯科·塞戈维亚一记灵巧射门越过门将克劳迪奥·拉莫斯，将比分扳平，随后的7分钟，梅西全面发力。
A free kick on the edge of the box, which the Argentine star won, brought the crowd to the edge of their seats. A sense of inevitability hung in the air as the maestro marked his territory and figured out the exact angle to place a whipped shot into the corner of the net.
他赢得了一记禁区边缘的任意球，全场观众屏息以待。球场大师划定自己的领域，并精准找到角度，将一脚鞭打般的射门送入球门死角，仿佛注定的精彩。
You almost had to feel for Ramos, who couldn’t lay a glove on either strike.
几乎令人替拉莫斯感到同情，他连手也没碰到这两脚精彩射门。
The goal was a thing of beauty, as we have been treated to so frequently over the years, with Portuguese defender José Fonte lauding Messi on the DAZN broadcast: “Touched by God, isn’t he? Incredible. What a player.”
那粒进球堪称美如画，正如我们多年来常见的那样。葡萄牙后卫若泽·丰特在 DAZN 转播中赞叹道：“仿佛被上帝触碰，好不可思议。真是位了不起的球员。”
The stunner ended up not just being the match winner but resulted in the first time a team from the CONCACAF region has defeated a European side in a competitive fixture.
这粒惊艳绝伦的进球不仅决定了胜负，也创造了历史——这是 CONCACAF 区域球队首次在正式赛事中击败欧洲劲旅。
It was Messi’s 50th goal for the team as well. Not too shabby for a Thursday afternoon in the middle of June.
这还是梅西为迈阿密国际打入的第50球。在六月中旬的一个周四下午，这成绩相当不错。
A point in the final group game against Brazilian outfit Palmeiras next Monday will guarantee Inter Miami’s place in the knockout phase.
下周一对阵巴西球队帕尔梅拉斯的最后一场小组赛中只需战平，就能确保迈阿密国际挺进淘汰赛。
Cutting through the noise and one wonders what the powers at be in FIFA make of it all. The sport’s governing body essentially fast‑tracked Inter Miami into the 32‑team tournament, not by virtue of winning the MLS Cup, but rather the regular season Supporters’ Shield, which may have come with a trophy, but is ultimately a pathway into the postseason.
看过这场火爆，难免好奇国际足联决策层对此作何感想。事实上，足球管理机构以常规赛的支持者盾奖（而非赢得 MLS 杯）为由，加快了迈阿密国际晋级 32 支球队名单的进程，尽管该奖项有奖杯，但本质上是通往季后赛的路径。
Messi and Miami were shockingly bounced last year in a best‑of‑three playoff series by the team which can normally be found playing at this stunning 70,000‑capacity stadium, Atlanta United, with the MLS Cup eventually hoisted aloft by LA Galaxy.
去年，梅西与迈阿密国际在三局两胜制季后赛中出人意料地被常驻这座7万人体育场的亚特兰大联队淘汰，最终 MLS 冠杯则由洛杉矶银河举起。
But the Seattle Sounders and LAFC completed the contingent of the three MLS sides in the Club World Cup, leaving the Galaxy on the outside looking in, gazing enviously at the brightest star of them all.
随后，西雅图海湾人和洛杉矶足球俱乐部与迈阿密国际一同组成 MLS 三支球队阵容，洛杉矶银河则落选，只能遐想那位最闪耀的明星。
And with the Club World Cup finally finding its feet, thanks to Messi’s left foot resulting in one of the tournament’s first signature moments, the reality remains that he is what has drawn the crowds here on Thursday, and last Saturday to boot, with the opening game of the tournament attracting over 60,000 fans to Hard Rock Stadium in Messi’s American base of Miami.
随着俱乐部世界杯逐渐站稳脚跟，梅西左脚创造了赛事首批标志性瞬间。因此，现实显而易见——正是他吸引了周四以及上周六在迈阿密硬石体育场首战的观众，吸引了超过60,000名球迷到场。
Inter Miami is a relatively new MLS franchise, with co‑owner David Beckham – who may have felt a modicum of sympathy for his former club, the LA Galaxy, not getting an invite to FIFA’s party – the original reason for this franchise gaining relevance in 2018.
迈阿密国际是一个较新的 MLS 球队，联合拥有者大卫·贝克汉姆——他或许对昔日俱乐部洛杉矶银河未入选国际足联做客感到些许遗憾——而球队在2018年获得关注的初衷也与他密切相关。
Whether the Club World Cup – which is set to take place every four years, the same cycle as the slightly more established FIFA World Cup, which will be 96 years old next summer – can grow in stature remains to be seen. In the here and now, Messi and Messi alone is on the mind of everyone fortunate enough to witness him in action. And that extends to the players as well.
至于这项赛事（每四年一届，与国际足联世界杯同周期，后者下个夏季将迎来96岁生日）能否壮大声望还有待观察。但就目前而言，所有有幸亲眼见到他的球迷与球员，心中只有一个名字——梅西。
When CNN Sports speaks with Messi’s teammate Fafà Picault after the match, the three words the winger associates with the soccer superstar are “leader, winner, and winner again,” before noting, “Sometimes, it’s not always said with words but just with signals and body actions, so we try to read off of that. Obviously, we have conversations behind doors, but there’s a lot more than just talking that can show signs of leadership.”
赛后，CNN 体育采访了梅西队友边锋法法·皮考尔特，他用三个词形容这位足球巨星：“领袖、赢家、再一次赢家。”他接着说：“有时候，并不只是语言表达，而是通过眼神或肢体动作，我们都会去解读。当然我们私下也会交流，但领导力不仅仅是言语而已。”
And on Thursday, Lionel Messi’s actions spoke far louder than words.
而在周四，莱昂内尔·梅西的行动胜于雄辩。
精选词汇
【cliché】/ˈkliːʃeɪ/ n. An overused phrase or idea that lacks originality. 陈词滥调
例句：The speech was full of clichés and failed to inspire the audience. 这次演讲充斥陈词滥调，未能激发听众共鸣。
【pilgrimage】/ˈpɪlɡrɪmɪdʒ/ n. A journey to a sacred place or for a special purpose. 朝圣之旅
例句：Fans made a pilgrimage to the stadium just to see their idol in person. 球迷们只为亲眼见到偶像，前往体育场进行朝圣。
【infancy】/ˈɪnfənsi/ n. The early stage of development. 初期阶段
例句：The organization was still in its infancy when it achieved its first major success. 该机构在取得第一次重大成果时仍处于发展初期。
【unbridled】/ʌnˈbraɪdld/ adj. Not restrained or controlled; free. 无拘无束的
例句：Their fans showed unbridled enthusiasm throughout the match. 球迷在整场比赛中展现出无拘无束的热情。
【cement】/sɪˈment/ v. To firmly establish or strengthen. 巩固
例句：The victory cemented their reputation as the dominant team in the league. 这场胜利进一步巩固了他们作为联赛主导者的声誉。
【pilgrimage】重复，替换下：
【legion】/ˈledʒən/ n. A vast host, multitude. 军团，大批人
例句：A legion of journalists gathered to cover the superstar’s arrival. 大批记者聚集报道这位超级巨星的到来。
【sparse】/spɑːrs/ adj. Thinly dispersed or scattered. 稀疏的
例句：The sparse crowd fell silent as the match began. 随着比赛开始，稀疏的观众席渐趋安静。
【notch】/nɑːtʃ/ n. A degree or level in a scale. 级别，程度
例句：The excitement level increased another notch when the star entered the field. 这位巨星入场时，现场的兴奋程度又上了一个等级。
【Americanization】/əˌmerɪkənəˈzeɪʃn/ n. The influence of American ideas or culture. 美国化
例句：The tournament’s structure hinted at the Americanization of the sport. 赛事结构暗示了体育赛事在某种程度上美国化的趋势。
【roar】/rɔːr/ n. A loud, prolonged sound from a large group. 喊叫声，咆哮声
例句：The roar from the crowd echoed throughout the stadium. 观众的呐喊声回荡在整个体育场。
【chant】/tʃænt/ n. A repetitive expression used by crowds. 口号，齐呼声
例句：The chant “Me-ssi” reverberated after each touch. 每次触球后，“Me-ssi”呼声都回荡不绝。
【bordering】/ˈbɔːrdərɪŋ/ prep. Very close to something. 接近，几乎
例句：It was bordering on legendary territory after that goal. 那粒进球几乎已达到传奇级别。
【slow-burner】/ˈsloʊˌbɜːrnər/ n. Something that gradually becomes exciting. 逐步升温的事物
例句：The match was a slow-burner until the second half erupted. 比赛在下半场爆发之前一直是逐步升温的过程。
【courtesy】/ˈkɜːrtəsi/ prep. As a result of; by virtue of. 因为，由于
例句：Inter Miami found itself a goal down at the break, courtesy of an early penalty. 半场结束前，迈阿密国际因早期点球以0比1落后。
【converted】/kənˈvɜːrtɪd/ v. Changed in form or purpose. 转换，转变
例句：He converted the penalty with a precise shot into the corner. 他用精准射门将点球打入球门角落。
【reaction】/riˈækʃn/ n. A response to something. 反应
例句：Messi’s stunned reaction gave a glimpse of his true emotions. 梅西震惊的反应，展现出他真实的情感。
【smart】/smɑːrt/ adj. Done with quick intelligence. 聪明的，机敏的
例句：Telasco Segovia’s smart finish leveled the score. 特拉斯科·塞戈维亚的巧妙射门将比分扳平。
【maestro】/ˈmaɪstroʊ/ n. A greatly skilled person; master. 大师
例句：The maestro commanded the game with unmatched finesse. 这位大师以无与伦比的精致掌控了比赛。
【whipped】/wɪpt/ adj. Thrown or moved with force. 鞭打般迅猛的
例句：He struck a whipped shot into the top corner of the net. 他鞭打般地一脚将球送入球门上角。
【stunner】/ˈstʌnər/ n. An extremely impressive event or thing. 惊艳之作
例句：That goal was an absolute stunner that sealed the win. 那粒惊艳的进球锁定了胜局。
【contingent】/kənˈtɪndʒənt/ n. A group forming part of a larger gathering. 队伍，分队
例句：Seattle Sounders led the contingent of MLS teams. 西雅图海湾人领衔参加比赛的MLS球队阵容。
【modus operandi】/ˌmoʊdəs ˌɒpəˈrændi/ n. Method of operation. 操作方式
例句：The club’s modus operandi relies heavily on star power. 该俱乐部的运作方式很依赖明星效应。
【scratch】/skrætʃ/ v. Remove, delete; start from scratch: from the beginning. 删去；从头开始
例句：Messi built the lead from scratch with that spectacular strike. 梅西凭借这记精彩进球从头奠定了领先优势。
【reciprocity】/rɛsɪˈprɒsɪti/ n. Mutual exchange. 相互性，互惠
例句：The reciprocity between Messi and his teammates was evident in their play. 梅西与队友之间的默契配合在比赛中显而易见。
【captivate】/ˈkæptɪveɪt/ v. To attract and hold attention. 吸引，迷住
例句：Messi’s performance continued to captivate fans worldwide. 梅西的表现持续吸引着全球球迷。
【stature】/ˈstætʃər/ n. Reputation or status. 名声，声望
例句：The tournament’s stature grew after Messi’s signature moment. 梅西标志性一刻后，比赛的地位得以提升。
【modicum】/ˈmɒdɪkəm/ n. A small amount. 少量
例句：Beckham expressed a modicum of sympathy for his former club. 贝克汉姆对昔日俱乐部表示了些许同情。
来源：纵观世界Max2023