Lionel Messi: A Two-Decade Legacy of Unparalleled Influence

In 2004 a Barcelona coach sent a message: “That Argentine I told you about is training with you tomorrow.” Sixteen-year-old Lionel Messi arrived, and a teammate recalled that he “controlled the ball, dribbled, passed and linked up… he could do it all.” Senior players Carles Puyol, Victor Valdés, Deco and Ronaldinho called the display “not normal.” Within weeks Messi was “pretty much the best player at the club,” combining aggression with a single-minded focus on goal while remaining shy off the pitch.

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In the 2011 Champions League semi-final at the Bernabéu, Messi scored the opener and then launched a “Maradona-style run,” beating Lassana Diarra, Xabi Alonso, Raúl Albiol and Sergio Ramos. His teammate said, “our team-play could be stuttering but we had the trump card of the best player in history.” Later, Messi opened the 2022 World Cup against Algeria, positioning himself “in just the right place” for Rodrigo De Paul’s pass and finishing after “looking back three times.” He constantly scanned defenders and free space, a skill honed through “mental exercises at Barcelona.”

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The former Barcelona midfielder said Messi could have played in Iniesta’s, Busquets’s, Puyol’s or his own position, “doing everything just as well as the best player in every position.” This stems from “constant looking, constant assessing” and an innate sense of space, letting him “turn up at just the right moment” for both scoring and play-making.

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Messi’s role grew from a “quiet leader” to an “undisputed leader” for Argentina, driven by an “unquenchable desire to win.” After the 2022 World Cup triumph, he remained “a competitive animal,” convinced he could win again. His “champion’s mentality” and “perfect temperament” have been called “incomparable” and “almost inhuman,” highlighting a longevity that spans two decades of elite play.

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• “Maki, this guy is sticking too close to me, find me in behind,” — Lionel Messi, Argentina forward

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• “If you can’t combine with Messi, you can’t play football; it’s as simple as that.” — Xavi Hernández, former Barcelona midfielder

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• “Look at the way his feet still move, that fast little shuffle: tsk, tsk, tsk.” — Xavi Hernández

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• “Messi walking out for the second half of Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria (Maja Hitij – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) I like to say that he is the Michael Jordan of football.” — Xavi Hernández

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• “I don’t believe we will ever see a footballer like him again.” — Xavi Hernández

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Messi continues to prepare mentally for future tournaments, keeping the “fast little shuffle” that defined his early years. He says he is convinced he can win again and believes Argentina will reach the final stages of upcoming competitions, while his legacy shapes the next generation of Argentine and global talent.

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