It all started in 2007. A boy full of dreams tiptoed toward the 14-inch Onida CRT TV at two in the morning. He was careful—the static sound might wake up his parents. Sitting just inches away from the television, he tuned into the Barcelona vs Getafe match. And suddenly, there he was: Lionel Andrés Messi, weaving past six players to score a solo goal in Barcelona’s Camp Nou.
Around 8,000 kilometres away, the boy, with a gleam in his eyes and a smile on his face, fell hopelessly in love with the little magician from Rosario, Argentina.
Nineteen years later, on 31 August, the world changed with Messi’s heart-wrenching retirement post on Instagram; something died inside the millions of fans who found solace in the footballer. Messi was the antidote to everything. If you got a bad grade or a scolding from your parents or teachers? Watch Messi. Had a bad day in the office? Watch Messi. Your partner cheated on you? Watch Messi. On the football field, he was the wonder cure-all drug.
For millions of fans, whatever went wrong, they could turn to Messi. It all trickled down to him. And he would always make you feel that “You can walk straight through hell with a smile.”
As years passed, fans realised that it was not just smiles; we shared the tears, too. When Messi lost the FIFA World Cup final in 2014 and 2026, we cried. When he lost two Copa América finals, we cried. After Messi’s farewell speech at FC Barcelona, when he left the club after 21 years, we cried.
But there were the tears of joy, too. From bagging a record eight Ballon d’Ors to two Copa América titles to one World Cup trophy, we all stared in wonder at the moment, amazed, tears rolling down our cheeks.
Rest assured, Lionel Andrés Messi can make grown-ups cry foolishly.
‘I have nothing more to give’
Drawing curtains on a 21-year illustrious career, the 39-year-old said that the decision came after losing his father following the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul, but I understand that now is the time. I swear I always gave everything—not just in these last few years when we won it all, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football,” he said.
There is little time left, and stages are coming to an end, and this part hurts him a lot, Messi said, adding, “I love, loved and will always love being part of the national team. I emptied myself; I have nothing more to give. And besides, there are some great young players coming through who deserve to be there.”
This handwritten three-page letter feels personal for every Messi fan, especially the “I have nothing more to give” part. What else could he have done? He’s achieved it all, starting his career from a small town in Argentina; he defied the growth hormone problem and went on to become the GOAT—Greatest of All Time.
He turned his weakness into strength, defied all odds and crossed an ocean to chase his dream, securing a contract for Barcelona at just 13. The first contract was signed on a paper napkin because FC Barcelona’s sporting director at the time, Carles Rexach, was desperate to lock in the young prodigy before other clubs noticed him. And he couldn’t wait for official documents.
The rest is history.
The boy who was once told that his body needed help to grow went on to become a footballer who defied physics on the field. His moves create geometry on the field. He turned a medical vulnerability into a physical advantage.
David Sumpter, a Professor of Applied Mathematics, worked with FC Barcelona to study how Messi instinctively mastered spatial geometry.
“And what we found is that he and his teammates were finding pockets of space that didn’t yet exist. It wouldn’t exist as a space for another two or three seconds. In that respect, yes, these players could see two seconds into the future, five seconds into the future. With Messi, it seemed almost like he could see 10 minutes into the future,” Sumpter had told The Athletic.
Many coaches and former players have previously said that “it is impossible to teach him anything.”
Legendary coach Arsene Wenger had said, “He is a PlayStation player. He can take advantage of every mistake we make. He makes the impossible, possible. You cannot coach that level of instinct.”
Also Read: Lionel Messi’s World Cup ended in defeat. His greatness continues
Football is losing its perfection
While Messi’s retirement comes at the right time, football is still losing its perfection. For fans, there will be no “one more game” for Messi dressed in his country colours. But on or off the pitch, Messi remains special.
Despite 927 career goals for club and country, he always remained grounded. He respected his fans, had no superstar attitude, and roamed freely. To top it all, he remained devoted to the same woman he fell in love with as a teenager.
Antonella Roccuzzo, the girl he knew from Rosaria, travelled with him from Argentina to Spain and to the rest of the world. Three children later, Messi still seems the happiest when he is with his family.
This is another reason why fans easily fall for Messi. He isn’t just a footballer; he is our life coach.
As for the boy who was glued to a tiny CRT TV in 2007, he has grown up and given up on his dreams of becoming a footballer. But his dream of writing about Messi carries on.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)