Messi’s glorious position in football is set in stone

In football’s hallowed legacy of individual brilliance shaping collective achievement, the pantheon was always vested with a duopoly: Brazil’s Pele and Argentina’s Diego Maradona.

Carving his own niche

However, just like the suave manner in which he befuddled defenders, Lionel Messi also carved his own niche with these giants. Greatness in the beautiful game can never be discussed without mentioning the magician that Messi has always been.

As he announced his international retirement, Messi leaves a global terrain that he adorned with such aura. He was driven by the philosophy that if there was a goal to be scored, he would be the man to do it or at least grant the final assist.

However, Pele and Maradona did not face the extreme scrutiny that shadowed Messi in an age of intrusive social media. For years, the ‘club over country’ debate was often used to denigrate Messi.

His exemplary stint with FC Barcelona was used as a crutch to run him down while using his tenure with Argentina as a contrast. Messi had to find his light while dealing with Maradona’s massive shadow.

Lionel Messi at FIFA World Cups: A visual story

Sporting greats thrive on prodigal talent, self-belief, adrenaline and most importantly the applause from the fans. Messi often searched for that last bit. It did not matter if he was the most-feted footballer ever in the history of the sport, he had to win the World Cup.

He precisely did that at Doha in 2022, marshalling his unit to the ultimate glory, one that Maradona last secured in 1986. While the rest of the world loved him, to gain that emotion from his followers back home was special for Messi. Finally, Maradona’s shadow was cast aside as Messi glowed in his own luminescence.

He wanted an encore this year but Spain had the last word in the World Cup final. The Maradona replication was again at play as Argentina was runner-up in 1990.

To see Messi on the turf is to be aware of magic-realism, the kind that writers like Gabriel Garcia Marquez dished out in their epics. Messi offered hope, hoodwinked rivals with speed and pauses, and sold a dummy with his feint of feet.

Statistics would reveal 125 goals from 207 appearances for Argentina, but he was more than just numbers. To see him at his best, was to be aware of an incandescent legend. Messi’s glorious position in football is set in stone. He will be sorely missed.