When we talk about football, an unavoidable question arises: who is the greatest player of all time? Images flash through our minds: Maradona’s stupendous dribbles and charming charisma, Pelé’s World Cups, Van Basten’s Euro in ’88, Zidane’s bald head, Ronaldinho’s dazzling flair. Yet, at the end, we see the image of a man desperately clutching to reach the summit — Cristiano Ronaldo. Undoubtedly one of the finest players of our generation, adored by millions who marvel at his greatness. And yet, even with all his brilliance, he stands before an insurmountable legacy left behind by the peak itself, Lionel Messi.
A grandmother’s love and belief in what her nieto could do shaped Messi’s journey. She pleaded for her tiny grandson to be allowed on the pitch, and her unwavering faith became a silent force behind the boy who would one day move the world with his feet. Messi’s youth career was as enchanting as what followed. Dazzling Argentine crowds with hawk-like passes, a velvet touch, and dribbles that sliced through defenses, he was a force to be reckoned with. The Barcelona scouting team, mesmerized by his talent, offered full financial support — a bet that would redefine football history. From Grandoli to Newell’s Old Boys, and then to La Masia, the cradle of dreams.
Messi was a gem, and La Masia and Barcelona polished him to perfection. He rose through the ranks alongside Fàbregas and Piqué, climbing from Juvenil B to A, then from Barça C to B, until finally, Frank Rijkaard was convinced. At just 17 years and 3 months, Messi made his first-team debut against Espanyol. By the 2005–06 season, he was a regular alongside Ronaldinho, Iniesta, and Xavi. Thus began the journey of a teenage sensation who would become not just the club’s, but the world’s greatest player.
An astonishing 21-year career at Barcelona followed: 778 appearances. 672 goals. 268 assists. 35 trophies.
Absurd. That’s the only word that comes close, and these are just club stats. Messi was a collector; his name was on every individual award you could see: eight Ballon d’Ors, 3 times the FIFA best winner, 6 times the golden boot winner, and these are just a few of many.
He clocked in masterclass after masterclass, mesmerizing the world with his control of the game. So brilliant was his play that by the age of 24, people were already whispering the words “greatest of all time.” Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Zidane — these were the legends he was being measured against. And still, Messi stood tall.
Yet, his journey was not without thorns. Physical setbacks, personal losses, and heartbreaks on the international stage haunted him. Critics lurked at every corner. Fans turned on him. Argentina
— a nation that had once basked in the brilliance of Maradona — watched Messi falter in major finals. Consecutive Copa América defeats, the World Cup heartbreaks, missed penalties — all cast shadows on his legacy. But he never gave up, the will to win for his nation was that great, that greater than the luxury of leisure.
Messi embodied the words “never back down, never give up.” Years of frustration were not without rewards, it bore fruit. And not just any fruit — the crown jewel of football. The Copa América in 2021. The Finalissima in 2022. And finally, the FIFA World Cup — the greatest prize of all.
Oh, what an illustrious, poetic career. From jerseys burnt in anger to heads bowed in reverence. You watch him and feel compelled to applaud. He stuns you with balance that defies physics, as Ray Hudson said, “a magician that defied the laws of physics.” He delivers passes that cut through space like poetry in motion, finishes with surgical calm, and even when you expect brilliance — he still shocks you.
That’s Lionel Messi, the master of the game, the undeniable peak of football.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.