Traoré’s comic pits Neuer’s alien menace against Messi’s titan form
In Mahamadou Traoré’s new illustration, a colossal figure in a German national‑team goalkeeper kit looms over a gnome‑like Lionel Messi, echoing the 2014 World Cup showdown where, as the caption reads, “Wie no way around Neuer”. The scene captures football as a superhero saga.
Alien Keeper and Titan Striker
Verlag Die Werkstatt frames the artwork with the question: Manuel Neuer as an alien? Lionel Messi as a Titan? The publisher makes the comic available through its App, inviting readers to swipe through the larger‑than‑life panels. Traoré’s style leaves no Weg around the towering goalkeeper.
In the centre, Messi is rendered as a short, Argentine gnome clutching a glowing football, his eyes narrowed in challenge. The artist gives the Ball a faint halo, emphasising the Titan’s power despite his diminutive stature. The contrast underscores the comic’s homage to football’s larger‑than‑life personalities.
The illustration deliberately mirrors the 2014 World Cup final, where Germany’s keeper thwarted Argentina’s attacks. As the caption notes, “Wie schon bei der WM 2014 führt auch in Traoré’s illustration für Messi kein Weg an Neuer vorbei”. The scene captures the historic clash between the German titan and the Argentine star.
Messi’s Final Chapter
The comic arrives as Messi approaches his 208th international appearance, a match that the source says will be his last, set in Buenos Aires against Benin. The Argentine’s career is being celebrated with an honorary doctorate from the capital’s university, a tribute that extols his excellence on the Ball rather than academic merit.
Traoré expands the concept in his book “Superhelden des Fußballs”, a visual homage that lines up legends from Ferenc Puskás to Lamine Yamal as if they were Marvel heroes. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo appear in multiple sections, each described with concise data and superhero‑style epithets. The publication treats football Stars as if they possess superhuman abilities.
By turning the sport’s icons into comic figures, Traoré argues that the over‑exaggeration of talent has become a professional business. The work stands as both a celebration and a critique, positioning itself as a true Hommage to the drama and mythmaking of football.