Lionel Messi has retired from International Football. It feels like the end is nigh’ and I, for one, will miss him immensely when he finally hangs up his boots (he’s still tearing the MLS apart with Inter Miami).
I look at the world in stories, whether that’s through music, a painting, a novel. Or a sport. Here’s my story with the great Lionel Messi.
A beacon when all else was lost
The year was 2007. I was in my last year of high school and my mental health had taken a nose dive straight to rock bottom.
The month was July, it was the summer holidays and I was lazing about at home, flicking through the channels with nothing better to do.
Football. Huh. Been a while since I watched a game.
It was a second-half Copa America semi-final clash between Argentina and Mexico.
Copa America? Not sure… wait, WHAT?!
Some kid, about 20, in the famous Argentine blue and white received the ball on the right, outside the box just past the hour mark.
He took a touch and dinked it over the opposition goalie, into the back of the net.
“It’s Messiiiii… simply magnificent! And the whole of this stadium rises to 20-year-old Lionel Messi, because that was a goal to savour!”
Shortly after that Messi pressed and won the ball back in the opposition half, setting Riquelme up for a shot.
On the 78th minute, he made another dancing run into the box and squared it for Palacio, who was denied by a terrific finger-tip save.
And in the 90th minute, he received the ball from Palacio, somehow got it to ricochet off a couple of Mexican defenders before striking it cleanly just over the bar.
The game finished 3 – 0 in favour of Argentina. But for me, it was the beginning of a two-decade long love affair with the greatest to ever play the game.
Off you go
With blistering speed
A golden touch
Ball glued to feet
An unusual way to spend Saturday nights at University
A year later, in 2008, I was at the University of Kent studying Politics and International Relations with French.
Being a campus uni, there was lots to do on site. Rock nights at K-Bar. Local vis. arts performances at the Gulbenkian. But, most importantly as far as the student was concerned, Saturday night raves at The Venue night club.
Every Saturday night, students would get dolled up, let their hair down and go out for a night of dancing, drinking and flirting. But for me, Saturday night was reserved for Messi and Barcelona.
It was right at the start of the Pep era. Barca lost their season opener against Numancia and put in a sub-par performance in the following outing against Racing Santander.
But then something clicked against Sporting Gijon. Already 3 – 1 up, Messi produced a defence-splitting through ball to set Andres Iniesta up for Barca’s fourth.
Fifteen minutes later, Iniesta returned the favour, clipping the ball across for Messi to volley expertly into the back of the net.
And then, in a foreshadowing of Barca’s Champions League final tie against Man United, Messi headed in from Xavi’s cross to complete the scoring.
To me, this was the start of Messi’s dominance. For those twenty minutes, he was unplayable. Every time he received the ball, he ran at the defence, leaving a trail of three, four, even five hapless defenders.
No fancy footwork, no stepovers, rainbow flicks or ridiculous tricks. Just a man completely absorbed in his craft, doing what he loves.
Mesmeric your runs
An eye for goal
So sweetly struck
Still just a foal
Wherever, whenever
It became a commitment. Wherever I was, whoever I was with, when Messi was on, I was there. And the reward for my commitment? I got to experience every bit of Lionel Messi magic in real time.
The cheeky freekick goal that caught Atletico goalie Coupet unawares in the 8th minute.
The sweetly-struck effort on a waterlogged pitch against Malaga after slipping and sliding through most of the game.
The brilliant brace in a 6-2 drubbing of Real Madrid.
Different year, same Messi.
A devastating hattrick to demolish Zaragoza in 2010, which I watched with my roommate in Lausanne, Switzerland during my year abroad.
The 5 he put away against Leverkusen in the Champions League, which I caught while doing last-minute course work.
That incredible solo goal in the Champions League Semi-final against Real Madrid, which sent my cousin – whom I hadn’t even spoken to in 10 years – and I into a celebrating frenzy.
Lionel Messi had become a staple in my life – and I was living for it.
Those daring chips
Slaloming runs
Diabolical meg
Down on their bums.
Face to face at the Ballon D’or Ceremony
I happened to be in Switzerland during the 2010/2011 Ballon D’Or Ceremony in Zurich. My buddy Michael told me to take the train from Geneva and – after a brief tour of the city – we’d head on over to the red carpet to await the great one.
We arrived a couple of hours early to make sure we were right up at the front. The procession began and my excitement rose to a crescendo.
There was Siphiwe Tshabalala, who arrived to a chorus of “Shosholoza!” from yours truly. Wes Sneijder, who looked at me like I was deranged. Jose Mourinho ignored me, I didn’t offer Cristiano Ronaldo my Barca shirt to sign out of respect and Iniesta almost overlooked my shirt, stopped and tracked back to give it a quick scribble.
David Villa was a gem. After I screamed “El Guaje! The best striker in Spain!” right in his face, he stopped, winked and said, “thanks, man.” Oh boy.
My Barca shirt was peppered with famous signatures. There was a kid, about eight or nine, right next to me and I made sure they signed his shirt, too, since he couldn’t quite reach over the top of the barrier. Gotta pay it forward, right?
Now all along, everybody was rather calm. A bit too calm. I mean we were in the presence of greatness, surely there’d be somebody else screaming, trying to get their attention? No, just me? Alright-y then.
I was just about to comment on the apparent nonchalance, when there was a collective gasp.
Suddenly, I was pushed right up against the barrier, the metal digging into my abdomen. Something was happening and I couldn’t see what.
“It’s HIM!” Michael yelled. There were people all over me. I couldn’t see, dammit!
The cameras went wild. An excited murmur filled the previously relaxed scene. People were craning their necks trying to get a look.
And as he drew closer to our section, I became wholly aware that several shirts were being thrust in front of me. “HELL NO!” I screamed, wrestling away thrusting hands to make sure my shirt remained right at the front.
And then he was there. I couldn’t bear to watch. And this is the thing about people that we don’t appreciate in the moment, but later on we look back and think, “wow, that was noble as fuck.”
My buddy Michael sacrificed getting his own shirt signed and practically SCREAMED, gesticulating at my shirt so that Messi wouldn’t miss it.
Now we were face to face, if just for a moment. My heart was threatened to rip right out of my rib cage. I blinked the stinging tears out of my eyes. There was so much I wanted to say to him, about how he made me believe in the impossible, how he made me dream, how I’d spent hours watching and rewatching his highlight reels.
I wanted to tell him what he meant to me, but all I could make out in the end was, “El Dios! El Dios de futbol!” I think he appreciated that. I wouldn’t know, he hardly bat a lid.
I hugged that Barca jersey all the way back to Lausanne. It meant the world to me.
And bonus, this happened at the end of the night:
Through the pain… to the ultimate victory
Between 2008 and 2012, I watched 96% of Messi’s games. The 4% I missed were either because I was on a flight or somewhere without an internet connection and live TV.
I watched how he evolved from a dribbling dynamo to a passing genius (he was already great at this) and finally an all-rounder that could do a bit of everything. More like a LOT of everything.
Over time, his bursts of acceleration slowed down, he spent more time walking on the pitch, but his decision-making, his reading of the game and overall collaborative play more than made up for it.
And then came a spell of intense heartache.
In 2014, I was staying over at an acquaintance’s house in London. My housemates at the time wanted to watch the game on the telly at home, so that’s what we did.
I was animated as ever. Every time Messi touched the ball, I was on my feet cheering him on. Higuain had the ball in the net, but the flag was up for offside (Messi played his part in the build-up with a delectable pass out right to Lavezzi).
Just after the break, wildcard Lucas Biglia slid a perfect ball right through to the golden man.
Freeze frame. Go back in time.
Dec 13, 2008 Messi receives the ball out on the left from Thierry Henry. Takes a touch and lobs Casillas. Goal.
March 1, 2009 Messi wiggles past a cluster of defenders, bursts into the box, on the left. Left foot, slots it past the keeper. Goal.
August 21, 2010 Xavi through ball, Messi latches on to it, left of the box, left foot, slots it past the keeper.
It is inevitable. Messi’s clear of the defenders. Just Neuer to beat. And…
Wide!
We all know what happens next. Götze scores the winner, Messi is named the tournament’s best player, but looks distraught as he collects his runner’s up medal.
And then the capitulation.
2015 Copa America final.
In the 20th minute, Messi sends in a free kick that only needs a glance into the back of the net. Saved.
In the 91st minute, Messi collects the ball at the halfway line. Breezes past 2, squares to Lavezzi who’s open out on the left, Lavezzi puts it across the box… side netting.
Penalty shootout. Messi steps up to take the first one. Calmly puts it away.
Higuain… miss.
Banega… saved.
Argentina… out.
Agony
2016 Copa America final
90th minute, Messi has space to run into. He’s up against 5 defenders, with players either side of him. Chooses to go for goal some 18 yards out at an odd angle, off balance. Wide.
99th minute. Messi stands over a free kick. Sends it in. Looping header and… fingertip save to deny Sergio Aguero!
113th minute. Freekick. 25 yards out. Ideal angle. Wall. Corner.
Penalty shootout. Captain Messi steps up first again. Over the bar!
Argentina… out.
Agony.
Chin up, Leo. It’s coming.
In 2016, I had moved back to the UK and was looking for my first job after a 2 year sabbatical. We were staying with a friend and we agreed to watch the game together. After the match, he turned to me and said, “mate, you’re more passionate about Messi than many Argentinians.” And he was probably right.
The birth of La Scaloneta
After reversing his decision to retire, Messi returned to the Seleccion.
It seemed as though Argentina wouldn’t even qualify for the 2018 World Cup, let alone win it, and it would take a special performance against a resilient Ecuador side in Quito to get through.
Ecuador scored first, making the Herculean task almost insurmountable.
But not for Messi.
He took the game by the scruff of the neck and netted an impressive hat-trick to take Argentina into the World Cup. Sampaoli was at the helm of the coaching staff, but it was his quiet, unassuming assistant, that patiently waited his turn.
2018 agony… but faith remains
Sampaoli’s team at the 2018 World Cup was packed with ageing stars way past their prime. The likes of Banega, Perez and Pavon, who all started against France in the Quarter Final, seemed to have run their last legs.
Messi looked completely dragged out in that game. And even though Argentina fought back bravely and could have nicked it, Les Bleus, led by a young Killian Mbappe, proved to be too strong to handle. The game ended 4 – 3, Sampaoli’s reign was over and it was time for the assistant to take up the mantle and prove that he could do the job that everybody deemed cursed.
The project takes off
Fast forward to the 2021 Copa America and this was a completely new-look Albiceleste outfit.
Scaloni’s midfield trio of De Paul, Paredes and Lo Celso brought much-needed energy and dynamism. Up front, he called on the lethal striking powers of Lautaro Martinez and to shore it up at the back, he had Christian Romero and the one and only Emiliano Martinez.
There were still some familiar faces from the yesteryear. Acuña played at left back rather than midfield, veteran Otamendi was still in good nick and, of course, Di Maria still had some fire in his boots.
Side note: Diego Maradona, great as he was, never once won the Copa America.
Game 1 V Chile
Lionel Messi stands over a freekick in prime striking territory. Thierry Henry once confessed that Messi wasn’t great at taking freekicks. So he practiced over. And over. And over. And over again. Until he completely mastered it.
“Messiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii again! Come on! Messi Magic once again! The little Wizard delivers and it’s almost like taking a penalty for him at this range“
Vargas equalises and the game ends 1 – 1.
Game 2 V Uruguay
Messi is up against his best friend, Luis Suarez. 13 minutes into the first half, a corner is taken short to Messi, who has a bit of space to pick out a cross for Guido Rodriguez. Think of this as the left-footed version of his cross against England in the 2026 World Cup.
“Goes short to Messi. Messi jinks one way finds the cross back post it’s headed across the goal in off the post Argentina lead!“
Argentina hold on for a narrow 1 – 0 win, Muslera pulling off some terrific saves to restrict the Scaloneta to just 1 goal.
Game 3 V Paraguay
Another narrow 1 – 0 win after Papu Gomez deftly finishes off a killer Di Maria pass.
Game 4 V Bolivia
Scaloni’s men have conceded just once in 3 games. Papu Gomez has been excellent, Di Maria is having an outstanding tournament and Scaloni looks like he’s bringing the best out of Messi, in a way that no other Albiceleste coach could.
For the opener, Messi’s chipped pass takes out 3 defenders and tees Papu Gomez up nicely for the finish.
Papu Gomez continues to wreak havoc out on the left and after a skilful feint, he wins a penalty, which Messi converts to make it 74 career goals for Argentina.
Messi’s second is one we’ve seen time and again. He times his run to beat the offside trap and lobs the keeper first time to make it 3 for the boys in blue and white.
Bolivia pull one back, but Lautaro Martinez scoops into an empty net after a bit of pinball in the box. Match ends 4 – 1. But for a couple of good saves, it would easily have been 5, 6 or 7.
Argentina finish top of group A, unbeaten.
Game 6 V Ecuador
In a convincing 3 – 0 rout of the Andean side, Messi has a goal and an assist, scoring from his second direct free kick of the tournament. Argentina advance to the semi-final.
Game 7 V Colombia
Leo has another assist, teeing Lautaro Martinez up for a fine finish in the box. Luis Diaz, formerly of Liverpool, delays celebrations with an equaliser on the hour mark, sending the game to penalties.
Colombia go first. Juan Cuadrado, using all his years of experience, confidently puts his away to give his side the advantage.
Messi steps up. This all looks familiar. 2016. Agony. Not this time, Leo. Not this time.
“It will be 5 foot 7 Lionel Messi… who scores”
Inevitable.
And then it’s Dibu time.
Romero. Armani. Dibu.
Davinson Sanchez runs up, strikes it well… and SAVE!
De Paul… Skies.
Yerry Mina… Dibu… SAVE!
Paredes… scores.
Miguel Borja nearly takes the net clean off as he buries his effort.
Lautaro Martinez… never in doubt.
Edwin Cardona to keep Colombia in it. Dibu… SAAAVE!!! Argentina are through to the final!
Game 8 V Brazil. Final.
Messi V Neymar. Argentina V Brazil. Huge. Gargantuan. Will this be the moment?
The last time these two went toe-to-toe in the 2019 Copa America semi-final, Dani Alvez was their best player, Gabriel Jesus played on the right, Neymar didn’t feature.
Jesus and Bobby Firmino scored one goal apiece to knock Argentina out.
This time was different. This time, they were up against the Scaloneta.
And it only took 22 minutes for Di Maria to control a magnificent pass over the top of the defence and lob then-City goalie Ederson to make it 1 – 0. A Messi-esque goal.
Richarlison has the ball in the net… but is flagged for offside.
Richarlison… Dibu… save.
Neymar… Dibu… save.
Dibu the magnificent. Dibu fighting for Argentina. For Leo.
It’s Argy-bargy. Stars are dropping like flies. Messi’s down in the box. No penalty.
Barbosa… Dibu… save.
Tackles flying left and right. Where’s that final whistle dammit!
It’s 4AM in the UK. Messi is spent. Neymar is spent. We’re getting closer. Closer. Closer. Moments away. The longest few seconds yet. And then…
Whistle.
Elation.
From tears of pain. To tears of joy. Lionel Messi has his first bit of international silverware to add to his impressive club collection.
Finalissima – my first “live” Messi game
For such a big Lionel Messi fan, it’s shocking that I hadn’t gone to see him live more often. I did try and score tickets to the Champions League game against Arsenal in 2010 (my uncle being a season ticket holder), but that didn’t work out.
The opportunity rose again. Messi – and Argentina – would battle it out against European Champions, Italy, in a hotly contested “not-friendly friendly” dubbed Finalissima.
I jumped at the opportunity and turned up an hour early at Wembley stadium on the big day.
My buddy Jan and I found ourselves in the middle of a large Argentina contingent. There were drums and scarves and cheers aplenty.
And there he was. Strutting about the field like he owned it (because he did). I don’t think I looked at another player or followed the ball. I wanted to drink up every bit of Lionel Messi that I could.
Messi produced a masterclass that included a world-class assist. He even took on defenders, rewinding the years to his Barca days, drove at the heart of defence and pulled strings throughout the game.
I screamed my lungs out until the very end of the game and beyond that. It was an experience to savour.
There you were in the flesh
In the famous blue and white
Pulling strings like a puppet master
Bringing the crowd much delight.
2022 World Cup – the moment arrives
I was shitting bricks throughout the tournament.
There was that initial wobble against Saudi Arabia and I was absolutely fuming at that one fan who repeatedly asked “where’s Messi?”
For Argentina’s second – and crucial – game against Mexico, my family and I were holidaying at the beach back in my native Kenya. Our villa had satellite TV, with SuperSport: a South African sports channel that covers all major events.
I’d just put my son down to sleep when the game started.
Scaloni played his usual fluid 4 – 4 – 2, with a midfield 4 of Di Maria, De Paul, Guido Rodriguez and Alexis Mac Allister starting, while Messi was paired up front with Lautaro Martinez.
At the back, he opted for the experience of Otamendi and the ball-playing capabilities of Lisandro Martinez, with Acuña and Montiel playing left and right-back respectively.
Building from the back, Guido Rodriguez often dropped deep, practically into the back-line, creating a more compact central area. Meanwhile, Acuña and Montiel were given the freedom to play higher during the attacking build-up, offering width in attack.
This proved beneficial to Messi. Whenever Montiel received the ball high up on the right, De Paul moved wider, allowing Messi to glide into space and pounce on any chance afforded him.
There’s an intricate passage of play in the second half that highlights this. It starts with Montiel exchanging passes with Di Maria who picks out Messi. Messi passes it to Fernandez, Montiel moves further up, but Fernandez picks out Di Maria instead. The Mexican defence, seeing the build up on the right, shift to crowd out a possible cross, leaving Messi free for an instant. Di Maria picks him out 25 yards from goal, and…
“Lionel Messi… Messi’s here ohhhhhh, that’s what they came for! The Magic Man! One more Messi Moment and Argentina are alive!”
“He has hardly had a sniff around that penalty area, but give him a couple of yards, give him a sight of goal and he can do this. Magical stuff from Messi this.”
La Scaloneta strikes again. And it’s Lionel Messi who sends Argentina fans (including yours truly) into pandemonium.
New skill unlocked: how to celebrate with passion without waking the baby up
Road to the final
And here’s how it unfolded.
V Australia
“Messi, Mac Allister, MESSIII!!!! he’s only gone and done it again! A thousand games and still he excels.”
V Netherlands
“Craftily taken by Messi, wiggling away from Ake, and threading through a beautiful pass, it’s a wonderful Argentina goal! Molina pounced, Messi cut them in half and the rest was simple.“
V Croatia
“Messi held up by Gvardiol. Messi away from Gvardiol. And Argentina all but in the final! Julian Alvarez with the finish, Messi again with a marvellous mischief.”
Moment of Truth
Match: Argentina V France
Date: 18 December 2022
Time: 3PM GMT/ 6PM Kenya
Stress levels: extreme
Location: the very same place I saw Messi play for the first time; my parents’ converted garage.
Going back 15 years, I was pudgier, without a defined hairstyle, sporting a strange sort of goatee. My parents’ garage had a 65 inch TV, not quite OLED or QLED, but good enough. It was a proper boys’ cave. A hideout from the rest of the house.
There was a drum set in one corner. Storage bins for an assortment of sports equipment from cricket bats to squash rackets. A book shelf with academic syllabuses. The pool table was centre-aligned (not pushed out to the left like later) and there were two bean bags facing the TV.
At the time, I sat alone on one of the bean bags and watched a 20-year-old Messi run rings around an experienced Mexico side. He was clean shaven with long, Messy (pun intended) hair and wore the number 18 shirt.
Now, 15 years later, we both had proper haircuts, both had grown proper beards and were both counting down the minutes to the ultimate showdown that would definitely seal his fate as the Greatest of All Time.
“The World Cup is coming and sure we all want to win the cup, I just want to tell you that no matter the results, there’s something that no one can take from you, and it’s the fact you resonated. With Argentinians, every single one, there’s no kid who doesn’t have your shirt, no matter if it’s a fake, real or a made up one, truly you’ve made your mark on everyone’s life and that, to me, is beyond winning any World Cup.”
Journalist Sofi Martinez to Lionel Messi
Minute 20
“Di Maria. Lovely swivel of the hips. Down goes Di Maria, penalty Argentina.“
Minute 22
“Messi scores. All of those goals. All of those moments in a magical career. A simple stroke of the ball from 12 yards out tops them all. A goal in the biggest match of all for one of the greatest players of all.”
Note: Hard, low, bottom right of the goal. 1 – 0.
Minute 35
“Oh Messi, turns it round to Alvarez who gets it through and that’s Mac Allister looking at Di Mariaaaaaaa. Argentina are well on top in the World Cup Final.“
Note: In the build up, it was Messi’s deft flick, outside of the boot to find Alvarez that sets things off. Under pressure and everything. 2 – 0
Minute 59
It’s a lovely ball, it’s brilliant control… but the finish is wide from Messi.
Heart-in-mouth.
Minute 79
Touch by Mbappe, Otamendi had the head start, but he’s been beaten there by Thuram, Thuram’s down and that has got to be a penalty, possibly a way back beckons for France.
Minute 80
To get the game back on. He’s done it and France are now in one big hurry. ALLEZ says the president!
2 – 1.
Minute 80
Acuñas on the way down the left. Messi’s on the way too, but he’s been robbed there by Coman. There’s a hunger about France, a desire that’s been missing. Mbappe, gets the retuuuuuurn!
Note: Stress levels past extreme. On the verge of passing out. Heart thundering in chest. Please, please, please…
2 – 2.
Minute 96
Messi’s got his arm in the air almost politely over on the other side. He’s free. De Paul has given him the ball. Here goes MESSIIIII. Hugo Lloris, eyes like a hawk…
Full Time.
Extra Time.
Minute 104
“Messi makes himself available. Messi finds Mac Allister. And now Messi finds Martineeez… what a block.“
Freeze. Rewind back to 2014. Ball lumped up in the path of Gonzalo Higuain. Higuain takes a touch. And sends it wide. Is Lautaro Martinez Higuain reincarnated? Is this deja vu for Messi?
Minute 107
“Here’s Messi, Messi wants it again, Lloris in the WAAAAY. Referee’s had a look at the watch. Well the referee’s pointed at the middle and said GOAL.“
YESYESYESYESYESYESYES!!!
Minute 115
“Here’s Mbappe. He was charged at. And the referee says, just outside hasn’t he? There’s another change around here, France penalty! “
“He’s done it once. Twice. How about three times Kylian Mbappe. And Mbappeeeee is the man-“
Eyes closed. Sounds turned off. 2014 heartache. 2015 heartache. 2016… retired. 2018, forget. 2019 hope. 2021 Victory… Victory… Could it be. Is this the end. Is this Argentina’s end? Is this Messi’s end…
Minute 122
There’s Konate with one more pump forward. Kolo Muaniii is in…!
Don’t let me see. I cannot see. Heart thumping in my ears now, choking me, suffocating. Disoriented. It’s over. It has to be. But wait-
The TV didn’t want me to see. It mysteriously turns off. No wait, wait, what’s happened? What’s happened? TV not working. No time to fix it.
Run over to the other side. Parents idly watching the game, not emotionally invested in it at all. Look at Dad’s face. Why does he always have to be so stoic!
“Well?”
Even he has an exhale.
There’s scenes. The players have surrounded Emiliano Martinez. Our mighty Dibu has saved Argentina. He’s given Messi another shot at glory.
Penalties.
Up there in the celestial sky
There’s a streak of white
Clouds parting for a golden Sun
To once again shine on our world
Penalties could go either way. Sometimes, it’s not even about how good a penalty taker is. The pressure is immense. Anything can happen.
“I don’t think you can give anyone advice for penalty shootouts”
Gigi Buffon, Goalkeeping Legend
First up, Kylian Mbappe. He’s already put two away against the Mighty Dibu. Surely not a third?
He doesn’t linger, knows exactly which way he’s going and even though Dibu guesses the right way and gets a hand to it, Mbappe dispatches it accurately into the bottom right corner.
Next for Argentina. Leo.
To fans, pundits, critics, opponents, acquaintances, he’s Lionel Messi. Most would have him on their list of top 3 greatest ever footballers. Many would have him right up at number 1.
But to his close friends, family and teammates, he’s simply Leo. Unfazed by all the attention, he simply lives for the game. He’s a family man. He’s a friend. One would often wonder what goes through his head?
Make no mistake, he’s a fierce competitor. He doesn’t like to lose. And his humble outlook shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of competitive drive. We’ve seen him drop defenders like they’re stacks of lunch meat. And he’s probably enjoyed doing it.
Now, only Hugo Lloris, admittedly not at his best on this day, stands between him and the thing he desires most in the world.
“Obviously I would [rather] win the World Cup. I’ve always said the team achievements are more important than individual ones.
“The World Cup is the highest you can reach as a player, so I’d go for the World Cup, definitely.”
When asked if he’d swap his Ballon d’Ors for a World Cup back in 2016
Up steps Messi. No hesitation. Also knows where he’s going. And almost caresses it past Lloris into the back of the net. Wow.
Coman against Dibu. Dibu dances. Dibu anticipates. Dibu moves. SAVE! Advantage Argentina.
Next up, Paolo Dybala.
Dybala has averaged 9 minutes across 2 games. He made a substitute appearance off the bench against Croatia, playing 16 minutes.
Against France, Genius Scaloni brings him on with 1 minute to spare. And he’s going second in the penalty shootout.
It’s a decent run up. No stutter. He’s down the middle. Lloris goes right. Ball goes into the back of the net. Get in.
Tchouameni up next. Dibu toys with him. The King of mind games. Tchou steps up. And drags it wide!
Surely not. Surely not.
“All human wisdom is summed up in two words; wait and hope.”
Alexander Dumas
Leandro Paredes. Troublemaker. Once midfield stalwart before the arrival of Enzo Fernandez. Accepts his role. Strikes. Goal.
Fact: Hugo Lloris has saved 9% of penalties he’s faced. The mighty Dibu has saved 26%.
Kolo Muani had his moment to seal the game in extra time, but was foiled by a larger-than-life Dibu. This time, he doesn’t fail to find the back of the net. A glimmer, if only.
And it’s Montiel to seal it. For Argentina. For Leo. He’s cool as a cucumber. He knows they have a hand and three fingers on the trophy. It nestles into the bottom left corner. Hugo Lloris has gone the wrong way.
It’s over. Argentina are champions. Leo has his trophy. I’m on my knees sobbing, sobbing for all the years of pain, sobbing for Messi’s ultimate victory, sobbing for the good game of football. The moment has come. And what a moment it is.
In the spirit of sportsmanship, I want to take a moment here to acknowledge Mbappe’s Herculean effort to bring France back into the game.
To put 3 penalties across 120+ minutes past the Mighty Dibu is in itself an accomplishment. It shows great resilience, mental fortitude and, above all, the will to keep going when everything seems lost.
The Last Dance
With a World Cup in the bag, you’d have thought that Messi’s involvement at the 2026 tournament would be nothing more than as a token relic.
That he’d maybe make a couple of substitute appearances to assert his experience in the closing stages of games.
At least that’s what people told me before the tournament. But I stood firm on my own version of things. “Messi will be the best player at the tournament and one of, if not the outright, top scorer.”
They laughed. They said he was finished. “Really, how good can he still be? He plays in the MLS for Christ’s sake!”
Yes. He does. And if you’d seen his recent form, you’d think twice before making those “finished” claims.
Oh how I love it when Messi proves his haters wrong.
Game 1 V Algeria
30-yard thunderbolt to open his account.
“Here’s MESSSIIIIIIIII. The Master continues. The Magic continues. The icon, the leader, the legend.”
Poacher’s finish from close range.
“Mac Allister lines it up, saved by Zidane, but it’s straight to Messi! The Chief in Kansas City.”
Placed into the back of the net from 25-yards out.
“Messi head up looking for the right pass. Gonzalez. Messi trying to find the room! The miracle man!
Hattrick.
Game 2 V Austria
Wait. Is that Licha in the box? Dummy. And guess who. Echoes of THAT goal at the Bernabeu in 2012.
“Medina’s coming up on the outside. Ohhhhh yes and there it is. There it is. In terms of scoring in World Cup finals, you are looking at THE greatest.“
Battles Austria’s backline for a sight at goal. Throwback to his fourth goal against Arsenal at the Camp Nou in the Champions League.
“Great stop by Schlager. But is Messi going to crown it all himself. He has to. Well, this truth is stranger than fiction. There were four, five Austrians in the way.”
Game 3 V Jordan
Messi rested. Comes on in the second half. Freekick 25-yards out, centre.
“Lionel Messi magic. And he goes. There it is. It was a sighter. And the second one was bang on target. Goal number six.”
Game 4 V Cape Verde
Rewind to 2018 against Nigeria. Sublime control, first time finish. Mastery. Credit to Licha for one of the passes of the tournament.
“It falls for Messi, who takes it down in an instant and scores another goal. He’s almost otherworldly at times. World Cup goal number 20. Dispatched in an instant.
Game 5 V Egypt
One word: clutch.
Messi. Second cross deflected. And there’s the equaliser! Lionel Messi when most his country needed him. A lash of that magical left boot. Two goals in four minutes for the World Champions.
If this was the last goal
Of yours in the blue and white
Then what a goal it was
For glory. For the fight.
My favourite moment here:
I was in a WhatsApp group with a few friends. Most of them were vehemently opposed to Argentina and Messi winning anything. When Argentina progressed, there were cries of “rigged.” When Messi did something right, he was “still in cahoots with Trump.”
When Egypt unexpectedly went ahead twice, someone on that group wrote “Goodbye Messi” in a mocking way.
I was receiving text messages left and right. “Condolences. Commiserations.”
“Why?” My response would be. “It’s not over yet.”
“Yeah, but come on. There’s only like 10 minutes left. It’s over.”
And then that cross for Romero.
And then that lethal strike with the left foot.
And then the header by Enzo to seal it.
Rigged? Rigged you say?
Yes, they’ve planted a chip
Into that wand of a left foot
And with a joystick
They control his every movement.
Game 6 V Switzerland
Corner. Puts it on a plate for Mac Allister.
“Goes a long way and again it’s into the net as well! Mac Allister got on the end of that one!”
Game 7 V England
Hey Juuuuude
Don’t let me down
Pick a fight… with…
The greatest ever.
Remember, to get right under his skin
So you begin, to unleash his terror.
“It’s Messi, Argentina as you’d expect getting on with it very, very quickly and it’s another oneeeeeeee.“
Tom how many defenders do you need? Yes.
The definition of folly: taking off your most dynamic players, throwing on 7 defenders, taunting Messi and sitting back waiting to be completely bollocked.
“Messi again. O’Reilly can’t stop the ball innnnn. Lautaro Martinez heads it in.”
Second definition of folly: thinking it would be a walkover for France versus De La Fuente’s unsinkable Armada.
Game 8. Final
39 years of age. 8 goals. 4 assists.
- Second in list of top scorers
- Joint second in assists
- Most successful take-ons (25)
- Second most duels won (52)
- Most chances created (25)
- Most big chances created (8)
But all this pales in comparison to the biggest Lionel Messi statistic:
- Most joy given to fans around the world
Entering the final against Spain, I had lowered my expectations. I didn’t care if Argentina won or not. Messi had more than proved that he was the Greatest of All Time. He didn’t need ANOTHER World Cup for this.
He carried his team to the final, while dealing with all the hate, all the controversies and an ailing father. This is the story that I – and probably most fans – will remember.
Spain went on to win the World Cup. But there was one moment. One moment. Where the entire Spanish team – and fans – held their breath.
It’s been all Spain on the ball, when Cubarsi heads back to Laporte, who’s poor first touch gifts it to Alvarez. Cucurella plays Messi onside, Alvarez plays the ball forward, Messi is ahead of the Spanish defenders.
Suddenly, my living room dissolves. I’m now in the Camp Nou stadium. It’s August 21, 2010. Barcelona are playing Sevilla at home. Xavi breaks the line of defence with a scintillating through ball. Messi is on to it. The keeper freezes. Goal.
Now it’s August 26, 2011. The ball finds it’s way between Messi and FC Porto goalie Helton. Messi beats him to it, twists, turns, gets past him and slots into an empty net.
It’s February 19, 2012. Messi has already completed a hattrick against Valencia, but again the ball finds its way between Messi and the keeper with the entire backline caught out. The keeper is caught in two minds, doesn’t advance and is lobbed.
It’s 2026 again. It’s the World Cup final. Unbelievably, Messi is in it. Messi at 39. Messi, who has walked for nearly half of the games. And yet somehow has completed the most dribbles. And now the ball has found its way between him and Unai Simon. All the defenders have been taken out.
Unai Simon has rushed out of his goal. Messi knows the drill. Messi has done it before. Time and time again.
My legs. Age has betrayed them. I’ve given everything. I’ve carried the team. A younger me would have reached this way ahead of Simon. Simon whom I have faced so many times in La Liga. Simon who foiled me in 2020. He’s here.
It’s margins. Margins. Remarkably, 39-year-old Messi has nearly beaten Spain’s stalwart keeper to the ball. A second earlier perhaps. An inch gained.
Simon thwarts Leo. And it’s settled. Spain would go on to win football’s most coveted prize, reducing Leo to tears.
But not tears of anguish. Yes, of course this hurts. It was for his father. It was for the pride of Argentina. Por la ultimo de Leo. That’s what they sang in the dressing room.
But it’s also because, in spite of losing it after getting all the way to the final. In spite of losing it after coming back against the likes of Egypt and England. Despite not bringing the trophy home to their supporters. The fans still stood and in one voice chanted the name of the great one. And that loyalty. That support. That moved the world’s greatest ever player to tears.
Life after Messi
I don’t want to get ahead of myself. Leo maybe still has a year or so left in him. He’s still bossing it in the MLS and who knows, he may even return for a brief stint to Newell’s to come full circle.
But here’s my final verse in honour of the GOAT.
The day may soon come
When you hang up your boots
And take a lap of honour
Around the Universe
On this day fans will meet the world over
They will talk about the Greatest there was
The Greatest there is
And the Greatest there ever will be.
Great players are blossoming from the present crop
Lamine whom you held as a baby
Mbappe whom you’ve thrice faced
And once thwarted
But they will never bring as much joy
As many memories
As you, Great and Mighty Leo.
Until your last kick, ol’ friend.
Messi is more than just football. Messi is a symbol. For those who dare to dream. For those who may be overlooked by fate, only to forge their own destiny through fire and pain.
Just imagine if Messi listened to the noise, looked at himself and said “they’re right, I’m just too small to play football. I should just do something else for a living.”
So if you feel there’s resistance on your chosen path. Don’t think “it’s not meant to be.” See it as a test of your resolve. And maybe, like Leo, just maybe, you too may end up being the Greatest of All Time.
If you enjoyed this piece and want to read more football/soccer related stories, check out my fiction web series centred on Ronaldo “The Phenomenon” Nazario here.
Just Me Lakhani 