God alone knows – how many hearts skip a beat globally when the commentator shouts ‘Mesiiiiii’ after a goal.
Such is the magic of the ‘little boy from Rosario’!
But being a fan is one thing and learning from the idol’s journey is another. On the occasion of the current World Champion’s 38th birthday, let us realise from his incredible career that ‘no one gets it easy in life’. That even the greatest face brutal setbacks but only true champions dare to transform themselves at every age and stage to achieve- what seemed impossible!
Mr Gautam Vats, P.E.T, Apeejay School, Saket reminds kids to learn from the world champion’s dedication to his game. He says, “Kids must see how devoted Messi has been to his game. He has time and again changed his playing style. His journey teaches us to never stop fighting for what we believe in. Wishing a very happy birthday to the legend!”
A career where wins were not parallel
While Messi’s club career started on a high with him winning the Champions League in 2006 as a teenager, the same could not be said about his Senior National team years.
A young Messi won everything with Barcelona breaking countless records along the way. At just 24 years old, he had won 4 consecutive Ballon d’Ors (Award for the Best Footballer of The Year). He was just 25 when he broke Gerd Müller’s record for most goals in the club football calendar year. Messi scored 91 goals surpassing the German legend’s historical tally of 85.
Champions League became a home trophy for the Blaugrana (FC Barcelona) with iconic wins coming in 2009, 2011 and 2015. These were the years when Barcelona dominated and
re-defined world football and Lionel Messi was at the heart of this magic.
But while victory kissed him ardently in the blue and red shirt, the same could not have been said for his beloved blue and white jersey.
A parallel string of failures
A 19-year-old Messi losing to Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final was not a big setback, with the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal making up for it the next year.
But the jaw crushing exits in 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2011 Copa America on home soil were big nerve wreckers.
As if this wasn’t enough to galvanise Leo, fate tested him with far worse.
The painful burn of 3 consecutive final losses in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2015 and 2016 Copa America editions (with Messi announcing retirement in a moment of unbearable grief after the latter) are great lessons that ‘no one gets it that easy in life’.
Part of a divine plan
And with France’s KO to La Albiceleste (Argentina national team) in the Round of 16 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the world almost wrote off Messi and Argentina from a shot at any gold medal.
Things could not have been worse, when even Barcelona closed doors on their record talisman but that is exactly when everything began to change for the better.
As if all that hurt had brought an inner transformation in Messi, he upgraded his playing style with a young Argentina team. The kids and teenagers who had grown up idolising him, were now living the dream of playing with their idol.
At the center of this strong unit, with one clear objective under a new coach, Argentina announced their arrival with the 2021 Copa America win, followed by a stellar Finalissima victory over European Champions Italy in 2022.
But as the old superstitions goes- just when things are going on track- something horrible happens- as Argentina lost their 2022 World Cup opening game to Saudi Arabia.
But something had shifted inside the 5 ft 7 inch boy from Rosario. He was calm even in that sea of pressure. He was not afraid of defeat anymore. He wanted to win and the determination was evident in his goal against Mexico in their next match.
Becoming destiny
As Argentina won game after game, the world saw a Messi who had transformed himself for the big tournament. Be it his calm penalty taking technique, watching till the last moment and sending the keeper the wrong way or the way he led the team throughout, this was his tournament.
While many argue for the super dramatic final to be the best performance, I feel Messi was at his best against Australia. Cool, detached from the pressure, focused on his game and ever more lethal, this was a different man.
While Australian players kept fouling him and their fans jeered ‘Where is Messi?’, La Pulga played a swift one two and scored the goal that took him and his nation one step closer to the title.
Defeats come to give you the greatest victory
This was a different Messi. He was forged out of the furnace of all those defeats. His face beamed as a true champion as he stood tall wearing the black Arabic Besht on his shoulders.
To fight on knowing one day all struggles will be rewarded, to fight on because there is still fire inside, to fight on knowing that time will change, to fight on because what is life without endless efforts till the final whistle- that is the lesson to be learned.
Everyone falls down repeatedly, but when you are down and everyone says it is not destined, can you keep fighting like Messi?
Happy Birthday Leo! You ignite the whole world!
Gracias para todos!
Mas Fuerte Campeon!