Lionel Messi's former Argentina teammate now Uber driver after injury nightmare
A former international teammate of Lionel Messi has a new job as an Uber driver after seeing his football career plagued by injury following his breakthrough for Argentina.
Back in 2017, full-back Jose Luis Gomez appeared to have the world at his feet after winning his first cap for the fabled La Albiceleste alongside a host of household names. Achieving the dream of millions around the globe, he made his senior bow for his country versus Brazil in a friendly game.
Starting the game in an an unfamiliar position in midfield, he dovetailed with the legendary Messi down the right flank, coming up against ex-Chelsea star Felipe Luis. Joining superstars Angel di Maria, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuaín in an attacking formation, he played his part as Argentina eventually won the game 1-0.
However, those 52 minutes at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground would prove to be his only taste of senior international football. Fast forward six years and the 30-year-old's life is far removed from the riches and glamour that many of those he shared a pitch with that day still enjoy.
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Speaking to Argentinian newspaper Ole, the one-time international's father revealed details of his son's new life as an Uber driver back in his homeland. He said: "We have always been a humble family. After training, he goes out to work with the car in the afternoon. Sometimes more at night."
The 30-year-old still holds out hope of resuming his football career, however, and has been training with a physical trainer in recent times. As things stand, though, his last professional appearance came in the form of a four-minute cameo in the 2021 Copa Sudamericana for Argentinian outfit Lanus.
He was previously tipped to establish himself as a potential mainstay for his country, having starred as an ever-present for Argentina's u-23s at the Olympics in 2016. His call-up for the games in Rio de Janeiro came after he won the domestic league title in his homeland in 2014 with Racing Club.
Jose Luis Gomez played against stars including Phillipe Coutinho on his first and only senior appearance for Argentina versus Brazil (Jason Heidrich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)To further enhance his reputation, the emerging starlet won Superliga, Copa Bicentenario and the Supercopa Argentina with his next club Lanus. However, disaster would strike just days after he made his senior debut for Argentina versus Brazil as he injured his knee during training.
The team had been due to play Singapore but Gomez ruptured the meniscus in his left knee to rule him out of adding to his single cap for his country. Following this, the Argentine defender would struggle to regain the same form and fitness and he would make just three appearances during the next season.
In the years that followed, his appearances would prove majorly fleeting as he appeared just 17 times in the league before leaving Lanus in 2021. Boyhood club Racing Club eventually gave him a contract back in 2022 but he is yet to play for La Academia, with his contract set to run until December.
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