He shaped my childhood and young adult years like few others. But he also achieved something in Argentina that so many fail at: In politically and socially difficult times, he united an entire country behind him.
Football has the immense power to bring people together – and Messi achieved exactly that. He gave an entire country moments where differences momentarily didn't matter, and shared pride prevailed.
Messi's Name on Every Other Jersey
This is also evident on the streets: It felt like every second football jersey bore Messi's name.
On the way to the 2022 World Cup title, Messi aged me at least two years. I nervously paced up and down in sports bars and would have loved to bury myself in the ground during the penalty shootout against the Netherlands.
The joy was all the greater when Messi was finally able to lift the World Cup trophy into the Doha sky on December 18, 2022. Undoubtedly the highlight of his career.
After all the final defeats, the criticism, the tears, and the statements that he would never be as great as Maradona, Messi finally won the last major title that had eluded him in his career.
And this at an age when quite a few footballers are already hanging up their boots. In 2018, when Messi, at 31, and Argentina failed against France in the World Cup Round of 16, an English commentator said: "It was certainly his last World Cup match. He would already be 35 at the next World Cup."
But the commentator was wrong – and spectacularly so. During his prime, if one can even say that, he swept everything at club level. And after that – from 2020 onwards – a 32+ year old Messi then won everything there was to win at national team level.
Pacing Like Crazy
Even at this World Cup, he once again showed what an outstanding player he is. I never thought Argentina would reach the final again. And again, every knockout match was so close.
No game could be watched calmly. Every match meant thrilling suspense at the highest level. I watched the Cape Verde game on my phone on the way home from Donauinselfest, the round of 16 match against Egypt at home. In my 60-square-meter apartment, I ran up and down like crazy when the 2-2 equalizer was scored.
For the Switzerland game, I had to get home in time from my own birthday party to watch Leo. I didn't regret it. I watched the semi-final at my parents' house on my father's far too expensive projector.
For the final, I was on holiday in Corsica and told my brother before the match: "We can only win, really." The GOAT debate had long been settled, and Spain, because of my favorite team Barcelona, was a more than welcome alternative as world champions.
Nevertheless, I wanted Argentina to win. That didn't happen – and that's okay. Spain is a more than deserving new world champion.
It was a wild ride over all these years. I'm glad to have experienced it all.
The end is part of the journey. And that has now come.
Thank you, Leo!
