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“A beautiful thing is a joy forever, its beauty increases, it will never pass away to nothing.” — John Keats
Sometimes the timing of things is so perfect that you can’t help but think about their poetic meaning. A butterfly landing on your shoulder or the sound of ocean water crashing against the backdrop of a sunset.
For me, when it comes to this match of ours, and as defending champion Argentina prepares to make its debut in this World Cup against Algeria on Tuesday night in Kansas City, I can’t help but think about Lionel Messi and what is to come.
Or what is about to end.
Lionel Messi after scoring a goal for Argentina in their first World Cup match on June 16, 2006. (photo by Matt Roberts/Offside/Getty Images)
Exactly 20 years ago to the day, making his World Cup debut in 2006 at the age of 18 years and 358 days, a young, long-haired Messi came on as a substitute during Argentina’s 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro. As Diego Maradona cheered from the stands in Germany, the Argentine crowd held a banner that read: “This is my dream,” while Messi held up the World Cup trophy.
Messi, like lightning, wreaked havoc and only took three minutes to set up Hernán Crespo’s goal. Ten minutes later, Carlos Tevez assisted La Pulga. for his first goal in a World Cup.
A lot has happened since then, and as a 20-year World Cup journey comes to an end in North America, I want us all to reflect on the fact that the light on Messi’s remarkable career is fading.
And for this World Cup, whatever lies ahead for Argentina as they attempt to do something only two other nations have done before in the history of the competition, namely win back-to-back World Cup titles, I implore you all to savor every moment that Messi takes the field. Because I promise you this: we will never see another player like him on the world stage.
Messi, earlier this month. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
In 2023, I had the honor of sitting down with Messi when I interviewed the World Cup champion for my book. I asked him about his career, his sense of happiness and his new chapter in Miami. It was just a few months after the historic World Cup victory in Qatar.
He was happy to answer my questions, which were about his personal and professional life.
But what stood out to me most was his sense of calm about where he was in his life. He was completely calm, and I’d like to think a lot of that had to do with the fact that he made peace with himself, knowing that the end was slowly approaching.
Years later, before the 2026 World Cup, that’s why he didn’t make a big announcement about his return for a record sixth tournament. It wasn’t about breaking records, but about closing doors the right way and saying goodbye to a friend.
Therefore, when Messi steps on the pitch on Tuesday night, I will hang up the phone. I will not accept texts or calls, I will not pay attention to anything else, apart from the fact that, for one last dance, one last glorious entrance to center stage, Lionel Messi, the greatest player I have ever witnessed, will say goodbye to the World Cup. And it will start against Algeria.
But in retrospect, I don’t think I’m overcome with sadness, but rather a sense of calm. Because at the end of the day, I will always remember the eternal memories of what Messi gave us.
And as John Keats reminds us, something beautiful is never lost in nothingness.
It stays with us forever. Just like Lionel Messi.
