1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:15,981 --> 00:00:18,673 [crowd cheering] 4 00:00:39,660 --> 00:00:42,076 [upbeat music] 5 00:00:45,769 --> 00:00:47,323 - [Narrator] Lionel Andres Messi, 6 00:00:48,945 --> 00:00:51,499 considered the best player of all time 7 00:00:51,534 --> 00:00:53,122 by not only football fans, 8 00:00:53,156 --> 00:00:54,847 not only football pundits, 9 00:00:54,882 --> 00:00:57,091 but by fellow professional footballers 10 00:00:57,126 --> 00:00:59,473 and managers all around the world. 11 00:01:10,449 --> 00:01:11,899 - He doesn't have the ball, it's unbelievable the character, 12 00:01:11,933 --> 00:01:16,904 how he plays, how he work for the team. 13 00:01:18,112 --> 00:01:20,045 He's one of the god of the football. 14 00:01:22,082 --> 00:01:25,257 - [Narrator] He has won a record breaking six Ballon d'Ors, 15 00:01:25,292 --> 00:01:28,847 six European Golden Boots, and holds the record 16 00:01:28,881 --> 00:01:32,126 for most goals scored and assisted in La Liga. 17 00:01:42,792 --> 00:01:45,450 - [Narrator] After an almost career-ending diagnosis 18 00:01:45,484 --> 00:01:47,245 when he was just 11 years old, 19 00:01:47,279 --> 00:01:49,419 Messi went against all the odds 20 00:01:49,454 --> 00:01:53,251 and blew the world away with his incredible football skills. 21 00:01:53,285 --> 00:01:55,460 - Statistics and history go out the window 22 00:01:55,494 --> 00:01:57,082 the way he's playing. 23 00:01:57,117 --> 00:01:59,119 - [Narrator] Witness the life and career 24 00:01:59,153 --> 00:02:01,914 of one of the greatest players of all time, 25 00:02:01,949 --> 00:02:05,711 and immerse yourself in the journey of Argentina's icon. 26 00:02:13,892 --> 00:02:18,586 - [Narrator] This is the magician known as Lionel Messi. 27 00:02:33,325 --> 00:02:35,845 [gentle music] 28 00:02:42,541 --> 00:02:46,027 Born on the 24th of June, 1987, 29 00:02:46,062 --> 00:02:47,926 Lionel Andres Messi was raised 30 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,757 in the football-loving city, Rosario, the largest city 31 00:02:51,792 --> 00:02:54,726 in the Central Argentina province, Santa Fe. 32 00:02:57,453 --> 00:02:59,524 Messi was brought up by his father, 33 00:02:59,558 --> 00:03:02,872 a steel factory manager and part-time football coach, 34 00:03:02,906 --> 00:03:04,425 and his mother, who worked 35 00:03:04,460 --> 00:03:07,394 in a magnet manufacturing workshop. 36 00:03:07,428 --> 00:03:09,879 His family were passionate about football, 37 00:03:09,913 --> 00:03:11,881 frequently watching it every week 38 00:03:11,915 --> 00:03:14,711 and getting involved with it every chance they could. 39 00:03:18,336 --> 00:03:21,062 - Well, Messi was born into a football family. 40 00:03:21,097 --> 00:03:24,342 Hid dad was a coach, and he was born in a football city. 41 00:03:24,376 --> 00:03:28,069 Rosario, in Argentina, was one of the host cities 42 00:03:28,104 --> 00:03:30,520 for the World Cup in 1978, 43 00:03:30,555 --> 00:03:32,591 almost 10 years before Messi was born. 44 00:03:32,626 --> 00:03:35,076 This is a city that loves the game, 45 00:03:35,111 --> 00:03:36,906 and it's a family that loves the game, 46 00:03:36,940 --> 00:03:39,080 that is steeped in the game through his father. 47 00:03:39,115 --> 00:03:42,843 And, Lionel Messi, his first influence is through, 48 00:03:42,877 --> 00:03:44,396 of course, his father's love of football, 49 00:03:44,431 --> 00:03:46,260 but also his grandmother's willingness 50 00:03:46,295 --> 00:03:49,884 to take him anywhere that football takes him 51 00:03:49,919 --> 00:03:52,680 as he begins to make his way in the local football scene. 52 00:03:52,715 --> 00:03:54,095 - [Narrator] Messi quickly developed 53 00:03:54,130 --> 00:03:57,927 a passion for the sport, as he was surrounded by it 24/7. 54 00:03:57,961 --> 00:04:00,309 He constantly played with his older brothers, 55 00:04:00,343 --> 00:04:03,277 Rodrigo and Matias, and by the age of four 56 00:04:03,312 --> 00:04:05,831 was determined to join a local team. 57 00:04:05,866 --> 00:04:08,282 And sure enough, in 1991, 58 00:04:08,317 --> 00:04:10,802 messi joined his first team, Grandoli, 59 00:04:10,836 --> 00:04:12,942 which was coached by his father. 60 00:04:13,908 --> 00:04:15,738 - His father, who is a coach, 61 00:04:15,772 --> 00:04:17,843 takes him to the local club, Grandoli, 62 00:04:17,878 --> 00:04:21,640 and looks after him there and influences his first steps 63 00:04:21,675 --> 00:04:22,917 as a very young player, 64 00:04:22,952 --> 00:04:25,126 four years old when he goes to Grandoli. 65 00:04:25,161 --> 00:04:29,061 But, of course, Newell's Old Boys is a Rosario club 66 00:04:29,096 --> 00:04:32,444 and the club that Messi has supported all his life. 67 00:04:32,479 --> 00:04:35,171 And, you know, very quickly they become aware 68 00:04:35,205 --> 00:04:38,312 of any emerging talents on their doorstep. 69 00:04:38,347 --> 00:04:41,867 And little Lionel Messi is very much an emerging talent. 70 00:04:41,902 --> 00:04:44,698 - [Narrator] Messi moved clubs when he was six years old, 71 00:04:44,732 --> 00:04:46,631 joining the Newell's Old Boys, 72 00:04:46,665 --> 00:04:49,116 a local club located in Rosario. 73 00:04:49,150 --> 00:04:51,394 Here, he played for over six years, 74 00:04:51,429 --> 00:04:53,500 developing his skills even more, 75 00:04:53,534 --> 00:04:55,743 garnering more match experience 76 00:04:55,778 --> 00:04:59,333 and surrounded himself with other future prospect players. 77 00:04:59,368 --> 00:05:02,923 Whilst as Newell's, Messi was already showing off what type 78 00:05:02,957 --> 00:05:04,890 of player he was going to become. 79 00:05:04,925 --> 00:05:06,685 In the six years at the club, 80 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,723 he went on to score almost 500 goals 81 00:05:09,757 --> 00:05:12,726 and became a member of The Machine of '87, 82 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:14,900 who were named that due to the fact 83 00:05:14,935 --> 00:05:17,489 that they were the near unbeatable youth side 84 00:05:17,524 --> 00:05:20,285 since their birth in 1987. 85 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:22,839 Audiences loved watching Messi play, 86 00:05:22,874 --> 00:05:24,910 as he was not only scoring regularly, 87 00:05:24,945 --> 00:05:27,465 he would also perform tricks at halftime. 88 00:05:39,408 --> 00:05:41,513 - [Narrator] It seemed like his career in football 89 00:05:41,548 --> 00:05:42,928 was going to blossom. 90 00:05:42,963 --> 00:05:45,759 But at the age of 11, Messi received some news 91 00:05:45,793 --> 00:05:49,487 that would put his professional football career at risk. 92 00:05:49,521 --> 00:05:52,869 [somber music] 93 00:05:52,904 --> 00:05:56,494 - He's an outstanding footballer, the best of his group. 94 00:05:56,528 --> 00:05:58,875 Newell's Old Boys know all about him. 95 00:05:58,910 --> 00:06:01,602 However, there comes an age when kids start to grow 96 00:06:01,637 --> 00:06:03,673 and little boys shoot up. 97 00:06:03,708 --> 00:06:05,710 Can never quite predict when that age will be. 98 00:06:05,744 --> 00:06:07,815 But with Lionel Messi, it just didn't happen. 99 00:06:07,850 --> 00:06:10,439 The problem for Lionel Messi is that it becomes apparent 100 00:06:10,473 --> 00:06:13,407 by the age of 11 that he's not really growing at all, 101 00:06:13,442 --> 00:06:16,824 and he's diagnosed with this growth hormone deficiency, 102 00:06:16,859 --> 00:06:18,861 which casts his whole future into doubt. 103 00:06:58,487 --> 00:06:59,902 - [Narrator] Messi underwent the treatment, 104 00:06:59,936 --> 00:07:02,318 despite the fact that it cost his family 105 00:07:02,352 --> 00:07:05,148 almost $1,000 a month. 106 00:07:05,183 --> 00:07:08,220 During his treatment, he continued to play for Newell's, 107 00:07:08,255 --> 00:07:11,327 putting in great performances every week. 108 00:07:11,361 --> 00:07:14,951 But things were about to change for the young Lionel Messi. 109 00:07:14,986 --> 00:07:17,609 - So Messi, at this stage, is still with Newell's, 110 00:07:17,644 --> 00:07:19,749 he's still trying to tackle this problem 111 00:07:19,784 --> 00:07:22,062 of will he grow enough to be a footballer. 112 00:07:22,096 --> 00:07:24,685 Some people say, "He's never going to amount to anything." 113 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:28,309 River Plate are interested in signing him as well. 114 00:07:28,344 --> 00:07:30,346 But the family looked beyond that, 115 00:07:30,380 --> 00:07:32,969 he has connections in Spain, in Catalonia. 116 00:07:33,004 --> 00:07:34,868 And he ends up at the age of 13 117 00:07:34,902 --> 00:07:36,904 having a trial with Barcelona. 118 00:07:36,939 --> 00:07:40,390 And Barcelona immediately want to sign him. 119 00:07:40,425 --> 00:07:42,669 - [Narrator] The Messi family traveled to Barcelona 120 00:07:42,703 --> 00:07:45,223 after receiving the go-ahead for the trial. 121 00:07:45,257 --> 00:07:47,536 Almost immediately during the trial, 122 00:07:47,570 --> 00:07:50,746 Barcelona's first team director, Charly Rexach, 123 00:07:50,780 --> 00:07:53,887 wanted to sign him, as he saw an instant talent. 124 00:07:53,921 --> 00:07:55,958 But unfortunately, due to his age 125 00:07:55,992 --> 00:07:58,270 and the fact he wasn't from Catalonia, 126 00:07:58,305 --> 00:08:01,377 the board of directors were hesitant to bring him in. 127 00:08:01,411 --> 00:08:02,896 - If you try and imagine, 128 00:08:02,930 --> 00:08:05,174 the 13 year olds at a trial with Barcelona, 129 00:08:05,208 --> 00:08:06,934 these are not the ordinary kids 130 00:08:06,969 --> 00:08:08,764 that you and I play with on the street. 131 00:08:08,798 --> 00:08:11,076 These are already the creme de la creme. 132 00:08:11,111 --> 00:08:13,872 But when Lionel Messi walks into this trial, 133 00:08:13,907 --> 00:08:17,186 nobody at Barcelona is under any illusions at all, 134 00:08:17,220 --> 00:08:22,225 he is the cream of that already very, very exclusive club, 135 00:08:23,054 --> 00:08:24,607 and they have to have him. 136 00:08:24,642 --> 00:08:26,885 - [Narrator] A few months later, Barcelona were given 137 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,095 a final chance to sign the Argentine prodigy. 138 00:08:30,130 --> 00:08:33,858 And on the 14th of December, Messi was offered his contract 139 00:08:33,892 --> 00:08:35,998 which was written on a paper napkin. 140 00:08:36,964 --> 00:08:39,484 Barcelona was his new home, 141 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:43,523 and in February 2001, the Messi family relocated 142 00:08:43,557 --> 00:08:45,697 to an apartment in the city. 143 00:08:45,732 --> 00:08:48,182 [gentle music] 144 00:08:53,187 --> 00:08:55,949 [upbeat music] 145 00:08:58,158 --> 00:09:01,506 Despite being signed to one of the biggest clubs in Europe, 146 00:09:01,541 --> 00:09:04,889 Messi was finding it hard to integrate into the youth squad. 147 00:09:04,923 --> 00:09:06,891 Due to the Spanish footballing law, 148 00:09:06,925 --> 00:09:09,859 he was unable to play any games apart from friendlies 149 00:09:09,894 --> 00:09:11,896 and Catalan league games. 150 00:09:11,930 --> 00:09:13,725 Because of this, his relationship 151 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,486 with other teammates was almost nonexistent, 152 00:09:16,521 --> 00:09:19,351 with some of them labeling him a mute. 153 00:09:19,386 --> 00:09:22,147 On top of that, his mother moved back to Rosario 154 00:09:22,182 --> 00:09:23,942 with his brothers and little sister, 155 00:09:23,977 --> 00:09:25,944 leaving him with just his father, 156 00:09:25,979 --> 00:09:28,740 causing him to feel constantly homesick. 157 00:09:28,775 --> 00:09:31,847 Eventually, in 2002, Messi was enrolled 158 00:09:31,881 --> 00:09:34,263 in the Royal Spanish Football Federation, 159 00:09:34,297 --> 00:09:37,922 meaning he was now eligible to play in all competitions. 160 00:09:37,956 --> 00:09:40,890 He had also befriended some of his junior teammates. 161 00:09:40,925 --> 00:09:44,929 Those included Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique. 162 00:09:44,963 --> 00:09:47,552 Now eligible to play in all competitions, 163 00:09:47,587 --> 00:09:51,625 Messi displayed his true talent to all the Barcelona staff. 164 00:09:51,660 --> 00:09:54,455 In that year, Messi became part of the youth team 165 00:09:54,490 --> 00:09:56,561 known as the Baby Dream Team, 166 00:09:56,596 --> 00:09:59,495 Barcelona greatest ever youth side. 167 00:09:59,529 --> 00:10:03,257 During his first season in 2002, 2003, 168 00:10:03,292 --> 00:10:05,156 Messi ended up the top scorer 169 00:10:05,190 --> 00:10:08,366 with 36 goals in just 30 games. 170 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:11,852 Because of this phenomenal season for the Cadetes A, 171 00:10:11,887 --> 00:10:14,821 Messi was getting recognized all over Europe. 172 00:10:14,855 --> 00:10:17,099 In 2003, he received an offer 173 00:10:17,133 --> 00:10:19,032 from Arsenal to join their team. 174 00:10:19,066 --> 00:10:21,034 But despite the fantastic offer, 175 00:10:21,068 --> 00:10:24,554 Messi decided he wanted to stay loyal to Barcelona. 176 00:10:25,797 --> 00:10:28,697 The 2003, 2004 season 177 00:10:28,731 --> 00:10:31,665 became an iconic season for Lionel Messi. 178 00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:34,047 Within this season, he shot up the ranks, 179 00:10:34,081 --> 00:10:37,947 debuting for a record five teams in a single campaign. 180 00:10:37,982 --> 00:10:41,054 During this, he played for the Juveniles B, 181 00:10:41,088 --> 00:10:45,127 Juveniles A, Barcelona C, and Barcelona B teams. 182 00:10:45,161 --> 00:10:47,854 Because of this quick rise through the rankings, 183 00:10:47,888 --> 00:10:50,546 players from the Barcelona A team were starting 184 00:10:50,580 --> 00:10:52,686 to recognize him in training sessions 185 00:10:52,721 --> 00:10:56,725 and insisted that he was given a chance in the first team. 186 00:10:56,759 --> 00:10:59,831 - Before he'd even got into Barcelona's first team, 187 00:10:59,866 --> 00:11:02,109 all the first teamers were aware of him. 188 00:11:02,144 --> 00:11:04,560 There'd been this occasion where a lot of them were away 189 00:11:04,594 --> 00:11:07,149 on an international break, and so they needed players 190 00:11:07,183 --> 00:11:09,323 to come in and take part in first team training, 191 00:11:09,358 --> 00:11:10,877 and Messi was one of those. 192 00:11:10,911 --> 00:11:12,741 And Ludovic Giuly of the Barcelona, 193 00:11:12,775 --> 00:11:14,259 French international player, 194 00:11:14,294 --> 00:11:15,847 who was part of this training session, 195 00:11:15,882 --> 00:11:17,849 tells this story about how this little kid 196 00:11:17,884 --> 00:11:20,093 who is absolutely destroying people. 197 00:11:20,127 --> 00:11:23,683 And grown men were being embarrassed 198 00:11:23,717 --> 00:11:27,721 by this little 15, 16 year old kid on the training pitch, 199 00:11:27,756 --> 00:11:30,241 and Frank Rijkaard could not ignore him. 200 00:11:30,275 --> 00:11:33,865 And very, very quickly the Barcelona first team was saying, 201 00:11:33,900 --> 00:11:35,936 "This boy has to be involved." 202 00:11:36,868 --> 00:11:39,353 [upbeat music] 203 00:11:40,907 --> 00:11:45,359 And at that time, Ronaldinho was the man at Barcelona 204 00:11:45,394 --> 00:11:48,708 and Ronaldinho saw Lionel Messi train, 205 00:11:48,742 --> 00:11:52,297 and he picked him out as being the next Ronaldinho, 206 00:11:52,332 --> 00:11:54,368 the next big thing for Barcelona, 207 00:11:54,403 --> 00:11:57,268 and was insisting, more or less, that Lionel Messi 208 00:11:57,302 --> 00:12:00,271 became part of the first team, seen at the club. 209 00:12:00,305 --> 00:12:02,100 - [Narrator] Although Messi didn't officially play 210 00:12:02,135 --> 00:12:03,895 for the A team in this season, 211 00:12:03,930 --> 00:12:06,139 he did finish that campaign having scored 212 00:12:06,173 --> 00:12:08,900 for four of his five teams with a total 213 00:12:08,935 --> 00:12:11,938 of 36 goals in all official competitions. 214 00:12:13,284 --> 00:12:16,770 Going into the 2004, 2005 season, 215 00:12:16,805 --> 00:12:20,153 Messi finally made his debut for the Barcelona first team, 216 00:12:20,187 --> 00:12:23,121 coming onto the field in the 82nd minute. 217 00:12:24,329 --> 00:12:27,125 - So when he was 17 and three months old, 218 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,024 Lionel Messi became the youngest ever player 219 00:12:29,058 --> 00:12:31,854 to play in Barcelona's first team, 220 00:12:31,889 --> 00:12:34,098 coming on as a substitute against Espanyol. 221 00:12:34,132 --> 00:12:36,652 And his first goal followed soon after. 222 00:12:36,686 --> 00:12:38,654 Also the youngest player ever to score a goal 223 00:12:38,688 --> 00:12:40,898 for Barcelona's first team against Albacete 224 00:12:40,932 --> 00:12:45,178 at the end of that season, which finished in 2005. 225 00:12:45,212 --> 00:12:47,939 [crowd cheering] 226 00:12:56,154 --> 00:12:59,917 So now Lionel Messi, at he insistence of his teammates, 227 00:12:59,951 --> 00:13:01,884 is in the Barcelona side. 228 00:13:01,919 --> 00:13:04,369 - [Narrator] Messi clocked over 77 minutes 229 00:13:04,404 --> 00:13:07,062 in just nine matches for the Barcelona team 230 00:13:07,096 --> 00:13:08,580 during this season. 231 00:13:08,615 --> 00:13:11,169 He was also a regular player for the B team, 232 00:13:11,204 --> 00:13:12,930 and a key one as well. 233 00:13:12,964 --> 00:13:15,380 But by the end of the season, it was clear 234 00:13:15,415 --> 00:13:19,350 to both staff and fans that Messi was the next superstar 235 00:13:19,384 --> 00:13:21,939 in the making, and was going to become a key player 236 00:13:21,973 --> 00:13:25,114 inn the 2005, 2006 season. 237 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:30,671 [gentle music] 238 00:13:30,706 --> 00:13:33,467 In the 2005, 2006 campaign, 239 00:13:33,502 --> 00:13:36,712 Lionel Messi was a full-time first team player. 240 00:13:36,746 --> 00:13:38,956 He had been fully promoted from the B team 241 00:13:38,990 --> 00:13:42,304 and was training with the A team on a daily basis. 242 00:13:42,338 --> 00:13:45,790 Within the first few games, Messi was blowing away fans 243 00:13:45,825 --> 00:13:47,723 on both sides of the stadiums. 244 00:13:47,757 --> 00:13:49,863 His skills were truly on show 245 00:13:49,898 --> 00:13:53,556 and his abilities were becoming renowned everywhere he went. 246 00:13:53,591 --> 00:13:54,868 - While still a teenager, 247 00:13:54,903 --> 00:13:57,560 the world is taking note of Messi 248 00:13:57,595 --> 00:13:58,872 and recognizing that he is 249 00:13:58,907 --> 00:14:02,496 one of the greatest players already in the game 250 00:14:02,531 --> 00:14:03,877 at this very tender age. 251 00:14:03,912 --> 00:14:05,292 And what he has, I think, 252 00:14:05,327 --> 00:14:09,779 is this incredible low center of gravity, such acceleration, 253 00:14:11,091 --> 00:14:13,956 such tremendous pace, he can glide across the ground. 254 00:14:13,991 --> 00:14:17,718 But he's also got an incredible physical strength which, 255 00:14:17,753 --> 00:14:19,444 despite his size, you wouldn't imagine 256 00:14:19,479 --> 00:14:20,894 that he could be as strong as he is. 257 00:14:20,929 --> 00:14:23,138 But he is literally kicked from pillar to post, 258 00:14:23,172 --> 00:14:25,899 game in, game out, and it doesn't seem to affect him. 259 00:14:25,934 --> 00:14:27,867 He just gets back onto his feet 260 00:14:27,901 --> 00:14:29,661 and dribbles around people again. 261 00:14:29,696 --> 00:14:30,904 And it never seems to knock him. 262 00:14:30,939 --> 00:14:32,319 - [Announcer] Here's the other two fullbacks, 263 00:14:32,354 --> 00:14:34,874 Belletti and Van Bronckhorst. 264 00:14:35,909 --> 00:14:36,910 Here's the youngest-- 265 00:14:36,945 --> 00:14:38,049 - [Announcer] Oh ho, look at that! 266 00:14:38,084 --> 00:14:39,913 Poetic for Messi. 267 00:14:39,948 --> 00:14:42,916 - And it's that kind of persistence 268 00:14:42,951 --> 00:14:45,919 and incredible strength to go with the pace and skill, 269 00:14:45,954 --> 00:14:48,094 which singles him out at this age 270 00:14:48,128 --> 00:14:50,096 as being something really, really special. 271 00:14:50,130 --> 00:14:51,683 - [Narrator] Messi was starring in some 272 00:14:51,718 --> 00:14:54,894 of the biggest games Barcelona played in this season. 273 00:14:54,928 --> 00:14:57,310 He played four games against their biggest rivals, 274 00:14:57,344 --> 00:14:58,898 Real Madrid and La Liga, 275 00:14:58,932 --> 00:15:01,866 and Chelsea in the semifinal of the Champions League. 276 00:15:01,901 --> 00:15:05,525 Together with players like Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho, 277 00:15:05,559 --> 00:15:08,942 Messi was easily becoming a key player for Barcelona, 278 00:15:08,977 --> 00:15:11,876 and helped strengthening their attacking force. 279 00:15:11,911 --> 00:15:14,499 But unfortunately, near the end of the season, 280 00:15:14,534 --> 00:15:16,777 Messi suffered from a hamstring injury, 281 00:15:16,812 --> 00:15:19,366 which would put him out of the first team completely, 282 00:15:19,401 --> 00:15:22,749 meaning he would go on to miss the Champions League final 283 00:15:22,783 --> 00:15:24,924 against Arsenal in Paris. 284 00:15:24,958 --> 00:15:26,926 Messi was devastated by this, 285 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,929 so much that he didn't even celebrate their win, 286 00:15:29,963 --> 00:15:32,517 something that he later came to regret. 287 00:15:34,347 --> 00:15:36,694 [subdued music] 288 00:15:36,728 --> 00:15:41,457 After fully recovering going into the 2006, 2007 season, 289 00:15:41,492 --> 00:15:44,288 Barcelona were gradually declining in La Liga 290 00:15:44,322 --> 00:15:45,875 and European tournaments, 291 00:15:45,910 --> 00:15:48,119 but this didn't stop Messi's performance 292 00:15:48,154 --> 00:15:50,984 and actually helped him top develop more as a player. 293 00:15:51,019 --> 00:15:53,504 And despite the poor Barcelona form, 294 00:15:53,538 --> 00:15:57,577 this was actually Messi's most groundbreaking season so far. 295 00:15:57,611 --> 00:16:00,580 During this season, he went on to score 17 goals 296 00:16:00,614 --> 00:16:03,893 in just 36 games across all competitions. 297 00:16:03,928 --> 00:16:06,586 He also got his first hat trick for the club, 298 00:16:06,620 --> 00:16:09,796 scoring against their closest rivals, Real Madrid, 299 00:16:09,830 --> 00:16:11,453 in the Clasico match. 300 00:16:11,487 --> 00:16:14,249 This hat trick meant that Messi was the first person 301 00:16:14,283 --> 00:16:17,873 to score one in an El Clasico match in over 12 years. 302 00:16:17,907 --> 00:16:20,013 - [Announcer] It's time for an equalizer for Barcelona. 303 00:16:20,048 --> 00:16:21,773 That's what label Messi has him mind. 304 00:16:21,808 --> 00:16:24,086 Messi takes everybody on, Messi has got it! 305 00:16:24,121 --> 00:16:26,986 [crowd cheering] 306 00:16:32,612 --> 00:16:34,959 This is the game that is gonna be remembered 307 00:16:34,994 --> 00:16:37,686 as the Lionel Messi match. 308 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,584 - [Narrator] It was clear that Messi was becoming 309 00:16:39,619 --> 00:16:41,966 an extremely important asset for the club, 310 00:16:42,001 --> 00:16:44,796 and was actually being compared to his fellow countryman 311 00:16:44,831 --> 00:16:47,937 and footballing legend, Diego Maradona. 312 00:16:47,972 --> 00:16:51,803 This comparison was made clear to fans in April 2007, 313 00:16:51,838 --> 00:16:53,702 when Messi went on to score 314 00:16:53,736 --> 00:16:56,877 what could only be described as a Maradona-esque goal 315 00:16:56,912 --> 00:16:58,879 against Getafe in the first leg 316 00:16:58,914 --> 00:17:01,261 of the Copa del Ray's semifinals. 317 00:17:01,296 --> 00:17:02,918 - There probably isn't a football fan in the world 318 00:17:02,952 --> 00:17:05,334 that hasn't seen the Diego Maradona goal 319 00:17:05,369 --> 00:17:08,027 against England in the World Cup quarter-final 320 00:17:08,061 --> 00:17:09,890 of 1986 in Mexico, 321 00:17:09,925 --> 00:17:12,514 when he runs from inside his own half of the field 322 00:17:12,548 --> 00:17:14,033 pretty much through the whole England team 323 00:17:14,067 --> 00:17:15,965 and glides around Peter Shilton 324 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:17,898 and tucks the ball into the back of the net. 325 00:17:17,933 --> 00:17:20,142 - [Announcer] Maradona turns like a little eel 326 00:17:20,177 --> 00:17:21,937 and comes away from trouble. 327 00:17:21,971 --> 00:17:24,905 Little squat man comes inside Butcher, leaves him for dead. 328 00:17:24,940 --> 00:17:26,597 Outside Fenwick, leaves him for dead, 329 00:17:26,631 --> 00:17:27,977 and puts the ball away. 330 00:17:28,012 --> 00:17:29,600 [crowd cheering loudly] And that is why Maradona is 331 00:17:29,634 --> 00:17:31,084 the greatest player in the world! 332 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:34,018 - Absolutely certain that there's no Argentine 333 00:17:34,053 --> 00:17:37,780 who hasn't seen that goal a countless number of times. 334 00:17:37,815 --> 00:17:40,128 And, of course, Lionel Messi would have grown up 335 00:17:40,162 --> 00:17:42,509 with that goal from the great Maradona. 336 00:17:42,544 --> 00:17:45,892 So then, in the Copa del Ray against Getafe, 337 00:17:45,926 --> 00:17:49,309 Messi picks the ball up inside his own half of the field. 338 00:17:49,344 --> 00:17:51,932 I wonder at what point he realizes 339 00:17:51,967 --> 00:17:55,074 that he's almost scoring the exact same goal, 340 00:17:55,108 --> 00:17:56,868 because it is extraordinary, 341 00:17:56,903 --> 00:17:58,560 from almost the same area of the pitch, 342 00:17:58,594 --> 00:18:01,114 beating players in exactly the same way, 343 00:18:01,149 --> 00:18:03,151 finishing in virtually the same way, 344 00:18:03,185 --> 00:18:05,084 Lionel Messi replicates 345 00:18:05,118 --> 00:18:07,258 one of the greatest goals we've ever seen. 346 00:18:07,293 --> 00:18:12,263 - [Announcer] Messi, oh, brilliant skill from Lionel Messi. 347 00:18:12,298 --> 00:18:14,265 [crowd cheering] 348 00:18:14,300 --> 00:18:16,681 Surging forward with real menace here. 349 00:18:16,716 --> 00:18:17,889 Brilliant from Messi, 350 00:18:17,924 --> 00:18:19,926 oh, what a goal that is! 351 00:18:21,376 --> 00:18:23,999 - [Narrator] This goal sent shock waves all over the world, 352 00:18:24,033 --> 00:18:26,174 as it was not only a good goal, 353 00:18:26,208 --> 00:18:27,796 it was a world-class goal 354 00:18:27,830 --> 00:18:30,937 that could only be achieved by a few people. 355 00:18:30,971 --> 00:18:33,974 [upbeat music] 356 00:18:34,009 --> 00:18:37,116 Messi was being regarded as the best player in the world 357 00:18:37,150 --> 00:18:39,566 and still at only the age of 19. 358 00:18:39,601 --> 00:18:42,949 With Ronaldinho out of the squad in the following season, 359 00:18:42,983 --> 00:18:46,263 he had become the star player for the squad. 360 00:18:46,297 --> 00:18:48,575 At the 2007 Ballon d'Or, 361 00:18:48,610 --> 00:18:52,890 Messi made the podium alongside Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. 362 00:18:52,924 --> 00:18:55,306 He unfortunately finished in the third spot, 363 00:18:55,341 --> 00:18:58,482 but it was still an incredible achievement for him. 364 00:18:58,516 --> 00:19:01,933 He also got nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year, 365 00:19:01,968 --> 00:19:04,073 coming second again behind Kaka, 366 00:19:04,108 --> 00:19:06,938 but beating Cristiano Ronaldo. 367 00:19:06,973 --> 00:19:09,389 He had finally had a taste of what it was like 368 00:19:09,424 --> 00:19:11,253 to be an award-winning player. 369 00:19:11,288 --> 00:19:12,772 But his mission to becoming 370 00:19:12,806 --> 00:19:15,775 the best player ever was still not over. 371 00:19:22,989 --> 00:19:25,888 [gentle music] 372 00:19:25,923 --> 00:19:28,995 Going into 2008, Barcelona were failing 373 00:19:29,029 --> 00:19:31,273 to achieve any form of success. 374 00:19:31,308 --> 00:19:33,931 Their past two seasons had seen them trophy-less, 375 00:19:33,965 --> 00:19:37,348 and not even contenders for top position in La Liga. 376 00:19:37,383 --> 00:19:40,109 Ronaldinho had dramatically lost all form 377 00:19:40,144 --> 00:19:42,733 and was not even considered one of the best players 378 00:19:42,767 --> 00:19:44,010 in the world anymore. 379 00:19:44,044 --> 00:19:46,875 And on top of that, Rijkaard, the Barcelona manager 380 00:19:46,909 --> 00:19:49,602 who had previously led Barcelona to win the league 381 00:19:49,636 --> 00:19:52,743 two times in a row, had lost control of his team. 382 00:19:52,777 --> 00:19:55,953 Things needed to change, and in 2009 383 00:19:55,987 --> 00:19:58,714 Barcelona were appointed with their new manager, 384 00:19:58,749 --> 00:20:02,339 the former Barcelona captain, Pep Guardiola. 385 00:20:02,373 --> 00:20:04,099 Messi continued at the start 386 00:20:04,133 --> 00:20:07,275 of this 2009 season to play on the wing. 387 00:20:07,309 --> 00:20:10,001 During this first season under Guardiola, 388 00:20:10,036 --> 00:20:12,521 Messi finally won his first Ballon d'Or 389 00:20:12,556 --> 00:20:14,903 and FIFA World Player of the Year award, 390 00:20:14,937 --> 00:20:17,699 winning the awards by the greatest voting margin 391 00:20:17,733 --> 00:20:19,977 in each trophy's history. 392 00:20:20,011 --> 00:20:23,808 But going into the 2010 season, Guardiola would go on 393 00:20:23,843 --> 00:20:25,948 to change his role, a decision 394 00:20:25,983 --> 00:20:28,330 that would actually make Messi the player 395 00:20:28,365 --> 00:20:30,298 that he is known for today. 396 00:20:52,630 --> 00:20:54,874 - I think when you have a player like Messi, 397 00:20:54,908 --> 00:20:57,877 it's very difficult to tie down to one position. 398 00:20:57,911 --> 00:21:00,328 But Rijkaard had mostly used him with Barcelona 399 00:21:00,362 --> 00:21:01,950 on the right-hand side as a winger 400 00:21:01,984 --> 00:21:04,884 with license to roam and cut inside. 401 00:21:04,918 --> 00:21:06,817 And when Guardiola took over at Barcelona, 402 00:21:06,851 --> 00:21:08,922 that's where Messi started off as well. 403 00:21:08,957 --> 00:21:12,098 But it was Guardiola probably who had the vision 404 00:21:12,132 --> 00:21:15,101 to see that maybe that was a position which restricted him. 405 00:21:15,135 --> 00:21:18,967 And actually to get the Lionel Messi unleashed 406 00:21:19,001 --> 00:21:20,900 he had to move him into the middle. 407 00:21:20,934 --> 00:21:22,419 And that's what he did. 408 00:21:22,453 --> 00:21:25,870 In all matches in the Clasico against Real Madrid, 409 00:21:25,905 --> 00:21:29,874 Messi pops up as a kind of a false nine position. 410 00:21:29,909 --> 00:21:32,463 And suddenly we see that Messi is capable 411 00:21:32,498 --> 00:21:34,672 of even more than we've seen from him 412 00:21:34,707 --> 00:21:36,087 on the right-hand side of midfield. 413 00:21:36,122 --> 00:21:38,676 - [Announcer] Looks very good for both sides up front, Rob. 414 00:21:38,711 --> 00:21:40,299 You know you can't rest on your laurels, and he's in! 415 00:21:40,333 --> 00:21:42,197 - [Announcer] No, you can't. This could be a killer goal. 416 00:21:42,231 --> 00:21:45,511 Lionel Messi takes his time, and walks it in! 417 00:21:45,545 --> 00:21:47,340 [crowd cheering] 418 00:21:47,375 --> 00:21:49,963 Start shining the trophy now. 419 00:21:49,998 --> 00:21:53,035 The league may well be Barcelona's. 420 00:22:59,205 --> 00:23:00,758 - [Narrator] The false nine position 421 00:23:00,793 --> 00:23:02,795 became Guardiola's trademark. 422 00:23:02,829 --> 00:23:06,108 And for Messi, it's helped him become much more of a threat 423 00:23:06,143 --> 00:23:07,558 in front of goal. 424 00:23:07,593 --> 00:23:11,907 During the 2009, 2010 season, Messi went on 425 00:23:11,942 --> 00:23:14,945 to break the goal scoring record for Barcelona, 426 00:23:14,979 --> 00:23:17,119 a record that had been set previously 427 00:23:17,154 --> 00:23:22,159 by the legendary Barcelona striker Ronaldo in 1996. 428 00:23:23,574 --> 00:23:26,957 - So in 2009, 10, Messi manages to equal this record 429 00:23:26,991 --> 00:23:30,685 of 47 goals scored by the Brazilian Ronaldo, 430 00:23:30,719 --> 00:23:32,997 the man that they called The Phenomenon. 431 00:23:33,032 --> 00:23:36,932 And Messi manages to equal that 47 goals 432 00:23:36,967 --> 00:23:39,003 in a season for Barcelona. 433 00:23:39,038 --> 00:23:41,972 A football club who's just had as many great strikers 434 00:23:42,006 --> 00:23:44,215 as Barcelona have, and have had, 435 00:23:44,250 --> 00:23:46,010 Ronaldo, the great Brazilian, 436 00:23:46,045 --> 00:23:48,599 Messi comes along and equals what he's done. 437 00:23:48,634 --> 00:23:50,670 I mean, it is extraordinary to do that. 438 00:23:50,705 --> 00:23:53,880 Season in, season out, Messi begins scoring goals 439 00:23:53,915 --> 00:23:55,675 at ridiculous numbers. 440 00:23:55,710 --> 00:23:59,403 Under Pep Guardiola, Barcelona were thriving again. 441 00:23:59,438 --> 00:24:02,544 Messi also went on to win his second Ballon d'Or 442 00:24:02,579 --> 00:24:05,685 and FIFA World Player of the Year award. 443 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:07,549 Throughout the next few seasons, 444 00:24:07,584 --> 00:24:10,000 Messi continued to be a key play maker 445 00:24:10,034 --> 00:24:12,485 and goalscorer for Barcelona. 446 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,557 They went on to win the La Liga title once again, 447 00:24:15,592 --> 00:24:19,492 and in 2011, Messi finished the season with 53 goals 448 00:24:19,527 --> 00:24:22,702 and 24 assists, becoming Barcelona's 449 00:24:22,737 --> 00:24:25,084 all-time single season top scorer, 450 00:24:25,118 --> 00:24:27,362 and the first player in Spanish football 451 00:24:27,396 --> 00:24:29,951 to reach the 50 goal benchmark. 452 00:24:29,985 --> 00:24:32,816 On top of that, he once again won the Ballon d'Or, 453 00:24:32,850 --> 00:24:34,990 making this his third win, 454 00:24:35,025 --> 00:24:37,614 allowing him to become the fourth player in history 455 00:24:37,648 --> 00:24:39,961 to win the Ballon d'Or three times. 456 00:24:39,995 --> 00:24:42,308 Bu going into the next season, 457 00:24:42,342 --> 00:24:44,206 his previous groundbreaking record 458 00:24:44,241 --> 00:24:47,313 of 53 goals in a season would seem just like 459 00:24:47,347 --> 00:24:51,973 a drop in the ocean compared to his 2012, 2013 campaign. 460 00:24:52,007 --> 00:24:54,803 [upbeat music] 461 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:59,256 - Messi's not just a goalscorer, of course, 462 00:24:59,290 --> 00:25:00,499 he does so much more than that, 463 00:25:00,533 --> 00:25:03,087 but he was shattering records 464 00:25:03,122 --> 00:25:06,953 set by the greatest goalscorers of all time. 465 00:25:06,988 --> 00:25:09,508 Guys who did not much more than just score goals, 466 00:25:09,542 --> 00:25:12,338 so their records fall to a guy who did so much more 467 00:25:12,372 --> 00:25:14,098 than just score goals. 468 00:25:14,133 --> 00:25:17,930 In 1972, Gerd Muller had scored 85 goals 469 00:25:17,964 --> 00:25:20,933 in that calendar year for Bayern Munich and Germany. 470 00:25:20,967 --> 00:25:25,972 Well, in 2012, Lionel Messi scored 91, breaking that record. 471 00:25:27,353 --> 00:25:30,943 An extraordinary feat, 91 goals in a calendar year 472 00:25:30,977 --> 00:25:35,982 averaging more than 1 1/2 goals per game in La Liga. 473 00:25:36,638 --> 00:25:37,466 It's insane. 474 00:26:42,980 --> 00:26:45,155 - What I can say about Messi 475 00:26:45,189 --> 00:26:49,228 more than I was talking, or the people is talking, 476 00:26:49,262 --> 00:26:52,127 he is one of the god of the football. 477 00:26:52,162 --> 00:26:53,750 It's unbelievable the desire, 478 00:26:53,784 --> 00:26:57,201 it's unbelievable the capacity 479 00:26:58,927 --> 00:27:00,653 to fight with the ball on the feet, 480 00:27:01,965 --> 00:27:04,968 to fight without the ball on the feet. 481 00:27:06,176 --> 00:27:07,798 What happen when he touch the ball, 482 00:27:08,661 --> 00:27:11,664 when doesn't have the ball, 483 00:27:11,699 --> 00:27:13,321 it's unbelievable the character, 484 00:27:13,355 --> 00:27:16,048 how he plays, how he work for the team. 485 00:27:36,137 --> 00:27:39,381 - [Narrator] Scoring 91 goals is a single calendar year 486 00:27:39,416 --> 00:27:41,798 got acknowledged by the Guinness World Records, 487 00:27:41,832 --> 00:27:44,559 and he continues to hold that record. 488 00:27:44,593 --> 00:27:46,630 Due to this phenomenal season, 489 00:27:46,665 --> 00:27:49,840 Messi also went on to win his fourth Ballon d'Or, 490 00:27:49,875 --> 00:27:53,119 becoming the first player to ever win four trophies, 491 00:27:53,154 --> 00:27:55,466 displaying to everyone that Messi 492 00:27:55,501 --> 00:27:57,468 was the greatest of all time. 493 00:28:06,167 --> 00:28:08,963 [players yelling] 494 00:28:11,862 --> 00:28:15,038 Heading into the 2013, 2014 season, 495 00:28:15,072 --> 00:28:17,247 Barcelona seemed to be heavily reliant 496 00:28:17,281 --> 00:28:19,767 on Lionel Messi to win games and trophies. 497 00:28:19,801 --> 00:28:22,528 - Celona is arguable the greatest club side of all time, 498 00:28:22,562 --> 00:28:24,910 and that alone would be daunting enough, 499 00:28:24,944 --> 00:28:27,119 until you factor in this man, 500 00:28:27,153 --> 00:28:28,845 the incomparable, the maestro, 501 00:28:28,879 --> 00:28:32,538 the unmarkable Lionel Messi is simply the puzzle 502 00:28:32,572 --> 00:28:34,022 that Chelsea have to solve. 503 00:28:34,057 --> 00:28:36,128 - Statistics and history go out the window 504 00:28:36,162 --> 00:28:37,750 the way he's playing. 505 00:28:37,785 --> 00:28:39,959 It's solely about us performing in these two games 506 00:28:39,994 --> 00:28:41,340 to try and stop him. 507 00:28:41,374 --> 00:28:43,342 And with the ability he's got, we have to be at our best. 508 00:28:43,376 --> 00:28:45,896 - [Narrator] Pundits were labeling the side's error 509 00:28:45,931 --> 00:28:47,829 as Messidependencia. 510 00:28:47,864 --> 00:28:51,522 However, going into the 2014, 2015 season 511 00:28:51,557 --> 00:28:53,939 under the new management of Luis Enrique, 512 00:28:53,973 --> 00:28:56,907 new faces appeared within the Barcelona squad. 513 00:28:56,942 --> 00:28:59,979 These new faces would be Neymar and Luis Suarez, 514 00:29:00,014 --> 00:29:03,120 and together they were the incredible strike force 515 00:29:03,155 --> 00:29:05,398 known as MSN. 516 00:29:05,433 --> 00:29:07,953 [upbeat music] 517 00:29:11,128 --> 00:29:13,821 - Always throughout time, there's been forward lines 518 00:29:13,855 --> 00:29:18,342 that have excited people and gone down in legend, 519 00:29:18,377 --> 00:29:20,966 and Barcelona obviously had one of those 520 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:25,798 in the MSN combination, Messi, Suarez, Neymar, 521 00:29:25,833 --> 00:29:28,974 which came a few years after Royal Madrid's BBC 522 00:29:29,008 --> 00:29:31,148 with Bale, Benzema, and Cristiano. 523 00:29:31,183 --> 00:29:33,668 It was a wonderful, wonderful setup, 524 00:29:33,702 --> 00:29:37,465 Neymar, Suarez, and Messi in the same side, 525 00:29:37,499 --> 00:29:40,951 Messi with his incredible goal scoring attributes, 526 00:29:40,986 --> 00:29:43,126 but also the wonderful assists 527 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:46,750 that he brings to the side and to the other two, 528 00:29:46,785 --> 00:29:49,926 Suarez, absolutely deadly in front of goal, 529 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:53,032 a finisher supreme, and Neymar, 530 00:29:53,067 --> 00:29:55,897 the kind of maverick on the other side, 531 00:29:55,932 --> 00:29:59,556 unpredictable, can be performing at a level 532 00:29:59,590 --> 00:30:02,352 below the other two quite often, but can also 533 00:30:02,386 --> 00:30:04,595 on his day be absolutely sensational. 534 00:30:04,630 --> 00:30:08,047 And who would not want to be part of that front line? 535 00:30:08,082 --> 00:30:11,016 [dramatic music] 536 00:30:12,569 --> 00:30:14,951 - [Narrator] MSN were terrifying in front of goal 537 00:30:14,985 --> 00:30:17,816 and racked up statistics never seen before 538 00:30:17,850 --> 00:30:19,196 in the world of football. 539 00:30:19,231 --> 00:30:22,717 Together, they scored a staggering 270 goals 540 00:30:22,751 --> 00:30:24,305 in just the one season. 541 00:30:24,339 --> 00:30:26,169 They also helped assist each other, 542 00:30:26,203 --> 00:30:30,414 achieving a total of 133 assists between them. 543 00:30:30,449 --> 00:30:33,901 They also went on to win back-to-back La Liga titles, 544 00:30:33,935 --> 00:30:36,938 two Spanish Cups, a Spanish Super Cup, 545 00:30:36,973 --> 00:30:39,596 a Champions League, a European Super Cup, 546 00:30:39,630 --> 00:30:41,805 and a FIFA Club World Cup, 547 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:45,947 totalling eight incredible trophies in just two seasons. 548 00:31:22,915 --> 00:31:26,229 - [Narrator] With Messi, Suarez and Neymar at the wheel, 549 00:31:26,263 --> 00:31:29,853 Barcelona were achieving record-breaking seasons. 550 00:31:29,888 --> 00:31:32,545 It seemed like the dependency on Messi was gone 551 00:31:32,580 --> 00:31:34,444 and they could all work together to win 552 00:31:34,478 --> 00:31:36,860 as many league titles as possible. 553 00:31:36,895 --> 00:31:39,414 [upbeat music] 554 00:31:44,419 --> 00:31:48,216 [singing in foreign language] 555 00:32:26,599 --> 00:32:28,532 - [Narrator] Whilst Messi's time at Barcelona seemed 556 00:32:28,567 --> 00:32:30,949 to be filled with record-breaking moments 557 00:32:30,983 --> 00:32:32,778 and constant league titles, 558 00:32:32,812 --> 00:32:34,745 his career playing for Argentina 559 00:32:34,780 --> 00:32:36,540 was telling a different story, 560 00:32:36,575 --> 00:32:38,957 one that was up for constant criticism. 561 00:32:53,833 --> 00:32:56,353 - In contrast, really, to his time at Barcelona, 562 00:32:56,388 --> 00:32:58,114 where silver ware and trophies 563 00:32:58,148 --> 00:33:02,463 just seemed to have come in a constant and steady flow, 564 00:33:02,497 --> 00:33:04,258 his career with Argentina 565 00:33:04,292 --> 00:33:06,985 has seen him finish runner-up so many times, 566 00:33:07,019 --> 00:33:08,538 Copa America, World Cup, 567 00:33:08,572 --> 00:33:11,334 it's almost been one disappointment after another. 568 00:33:11,368 --> 00:33:16,063 And somehow, Messi has never really stamped his personality 569 00:33:16,097 --> 00:33:17,892 on a World Cup Finals. 570 00:33:17,926 --> 00:33:20,860 He did win the vote for the best player 571 00:33:20,895 --> 00:33:22,621 in the World Cup of 2014, 572 00:33:22,655 --> 00:33:25,934 but Argentina lost the final, of course, to Germany. 573 00:33:25,969 --> 00:33:28,765 And it felt like it was a consolation prize 574 00:33:28,799 --> 00:33:30,353 for Messi as an individual, 575 00:33:30,387 --> 00:33:32,665 because he deserves to be on that podium 576 00:33:32,700 --> 00:33:35,013 for what he's achieved throughout his career. 577 00:33:35,047 --> 00:33:36,980 Whereas, actually, in that World Cup, 578 00:33:37,015 --> 00:33:39,879 was he the best player at the 2014 World Cup? 579 00:33:39,914 --> 00:33:41,605 Many people would say not. 580 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:44,781 Again, a World Cup passing by without Messi 581 00:33:44,815 --> 00:33:49,199 being able to enlighten it in the way he has with his club. 582 00:33:49,234 --> 00:33:51,822 - [Narrator] Since playing for Argentina's first team, 583 00:33:51,857 --> 00:33:55,826 Messi had only gone on to get to one World Cup Grand Final. 584 00:33:55,861 --> 00:33:57,518 And although he was the captain, 585 00:33:57,552 --> 00:34:00,141 the strength of the side always seemed to be questioned 586 00:34:00,176 --> 00:34:03,006 going into every international competition, 587 00:34:03,041 --> 00:34:04,111 despite having some 588 00:34:04,145 --> 00:34:06,630 of the best attacking players in the world. 589 00:34:29,274 --> 00:34:31,034 - Probably one of the problems for Messi 590 00:34:31,069 --> 00:34:35,003 with Argentina is that it is all about Messi. 591 00:34:35,038 --> 00:34:36,660 And great though he is, 592 00:34:36,695 --> 00:34:40,250 Barcelona have always fantastic players around him 593 00:34:40,285 --> 00:34:43,840 and behind him, in Xavi and Iniesta 594 00:34:43,874 --> 00:34:45,669 or in Neymar and Suarez, 595 00:34:45,704 --> 00:34:49,087 whereas basically Argentina is Lionel Messi 596 00:34:49,121 --> 00:34:50,950 and has been for a long time. 597 00:34:50,985 --> 00:34:53,677 Despite the fact that there's DyBala and there's Aguero 598 00:34:53,712 --> 00:34:55,265 and other terrific players, 599 00:34:55,300 --> 00:34:57,957 if you stop Messi, you stop Barcelona. 600 00:34:57,992 --> 00:35:00,028 And that has counted against them. 601 00:35:01,306 --> 00:35:03,825 - [Narrator] In 2016, after yet another disappointing 602 00:35:03,860 --> 00:35:06,380 display at Argentina at the World Stage, 603 00:35:06,414 --> 00:35:08,313 Lionel Messi announced he was going 604 00:35:08,347 --> 00:35:10,867 to be retiring from international duty 605 00:35:10,901 --> 00:35:15,078 and not be performing for Argentina in the next World Cup. 606 00:35:15,113 --> 00:35:18,081 However, leading up to the 2018 World Cup, 607 00:35:18,116 --> 00:35:21,153 Messi found himself going back into training sessions 608 00:35:21,188 --> 00:35:24,674 and taking up the role of captain once again. 609 00:35:24,708 --> 00:35:28,195 Maybe this World Cup would be the one for Argentina, 610 00:35:28,229 --> 00:35:30,956 a chance for Messi to show that he could prove 611 00:35:30,990 --> 00:35:33,096 that Argentina weren't a dying force 612 00:35:33,131 --> 00:35:35,650 when it came to international tournaments. 613 00:35:36,927 --> 00:35:40,552 In the 2018 World Cup, Argentina were under the management 614 00:35:40,586 --> 00:35:43,658 of Jorge Sampaoli, who had previously worked wonders 615 00:35:43,693 --> 00:35:46,730 for Chile in 2012, up to 2016. 616 00:35:46,765 --> 00:35:49,768 But unfortunately for Argentina and Messi, 617 00:35:49,802 --> 00:35:52,943 this would be yet another disappointing year for the squad. 618 00:35:52,978 --> 00:35:55,360 But it would also go on to be a year 619 00:35:55,394 --> 00:35:56,982 that was filled with drama. 620 00:35:57,016 --> 00:35:59,018 - So the 2018 World Cup Finals 621 00:35:59,053 --> 00:36:01,469 were yet another disappointment, really, 622 00:36:01,504 --> 00:36:03,954 for Argentina and Lionel Messi. 623 00:36:03,989 --> 00:36:06,957 Messi missed a penalty in the opening game, 624 00:36:06,992 --> 00:36:10,961 a draw with Iceland, massive disappointment. 625 00:36:10,996 --> 00:36:12,963 And then they were absolutely crushed 626 00:36:12,998 --> 00:36:15,173 in Nizhny Novgorod by Croatia, 627 00:36:15,207 --> 00:36:18,176 where it seemed like the wheels were falling off completely. 628 00:36:19,556 --> 00:36:23,457 - [Announcer] Kovacic, Rakitic, they're gonna walk it in! 629 00:36:23,491 --> 00:36:26,391 Job done in style for Croatia. 630 00:36:26,425 --> 00:36:31,361 Argentina a bit draggled, rugged, desperate. 631 00:36:31,396 --> 00:36:33,536 And with real, real work to do. 632 00:36:33,570 --> 00:36:36,987 - Coach Sampaoli at this point seemed to lose the squad. 633 00:36:37,022 --> 00:36:38,265 And there were rumors flying around 634 00:36:38,299 --> 00:36:40,888 all over the place that Messi would then 635 00:36:40,922 --> 00:36:43,373 virtually take over the coaching position, 636 00:36:43,408 --> 00:36:46,997 that the players selected the team for the last group game, 637 00:36:47,032 --> 00:36:49,414 which was against Nigeria in St Petersburg, 638 00:36:49,448 --> 00:36:50,829 which was one they had to win. 639 00:36:50,863 --> 00:36:53,349 There were five changes to the starting 11, 640 00:36:53,383 --> 00:36:56,352 and it appeared even that during that Nigeria game 641 00:36:56,386 --> 00:36:57,939 that the coach was consulting 642 00:36:57,974 --> 00:36:59,941 with Messi about substitutions. 643 00:36:59,976 --> 00:37:01,978 Messi scored a brilliant goal, 644 00:37:02,012 --> 00:37:05,188 Nigeria equalized, Marcos Rojo actually scored the goal 645 00:37:05,223 --> 00:37:08,674 that squeaked Argentina out of the group. 646 00:37:08,709 --> 00:37:10,814 - [Announcer] A brilliant bowl from somebody, 647 00:37:10,849 --> 00:37:11,988 they got their goal! 648 00:37:12,022 --> 00:37:12,885 [crowd cheering] 649 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:15,750 Argentina lives on! 650 00:37:15,785 --> 00:37:17,373 What a moment here! 651 00:37:17,407 --> 00:37:21,169 - They came that close to not even getting out of the group. 652 00:37:21,204 --> 00:37:24,034 - [Narrator] Tensions seemed high within the Argentina camp 653 00:37:24,069 --> 00:37:26,416 during this World Cup, with a lot of pundits 654 00:37:26,451 --> 00:37:29,419 labeling this side Messi's Argentina. 655 00:37:29,454 --> 00:37:32,008 Even though they just got through the group stages, 656 00:37:32,042 --> 00:37:34,838 their next match against France was hit with, 657 00:37:34,873 --> 00:37:36,599 yet again, more disappointment. 658 00:37:37,807 --> 00:37:40,050 But alongside that, it's also showed signs 659 00:37:40,085 --> 00:37:42,260 that Messi may not be the best player 660 00:37:42,294 --> 00:37:45,021 the world had ever seen when it came to performing 661 00:37:45,055 --> 00:37:46,850 on the world stage. 662 00:37:46,885 --> 00:37:50,475 - And having got out of the group just with a narrow victory 663 00:37:50,509 --> 00:37:54,030 against Nigeria, Argentina came up against France 664 00:37:54,064 --> 00:37:56,481 in the first knockout game. 665 00:37:56,515 --> 00:38:00,830 And Messi was almost outshone by Kylian Mbappe, 666 00:38:00,864 --> 00:38:02,901 who is bright young thing in the French side, 667 00:38:02,935 --> 00:38:04,903 went on to have a fantastic World Cup. 668 00:38:04,937 --> 00:38:08,009 It was a thrilling game, which Argentina lost. 669 00:38:08,044 --> 00:38:11,358 And at the end of it, it just felt slightly 670 00:38:11,392 --> 00:38:13,325 that the mantle was being passed on. 671 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:16,052 - [Announcer] Good ball, Giroud, helped on here, 672 00:38:16,086 --> 00:38:18,399 and Mbappe, he's got another one! 673 00:38:18,434 --> 00:38:21,437 [crowd cheering] 4-2! 674 00:38:21,471 --> 00:38:24,267 - [Narrator] Argentina's final performance in the World Cup 675 00:38:24,302 --> 00:38:26,821 certainly wasn't the worst they had ever seen, 676 00:38:26,856 --> 00:38:30,411 and they did show some promise compared to previous games. 677 00:38:30,446 --> 00:38:33,311 But unfortunately, France were the better team, 678 00:38:33,345 --> 00:38:35,658 and Argentina's World Cup campaign 679 00:38:35,692 --> 00:38:37,798 was put to rest once again. 680 00:38:37,832 --> 00:38:40,283 They failed to achieve an international win, 681 00:38:40,318 --> 00:38:43,355 and once again, Messi had failed to prove himself 682 00:38:43,390 --> 00:38:45,184 on international duty. 683 00:38:45,219 --> 00:38:47,911 [upbeat music] 684 00:38:51,329 --> 00:38:54,366 [players chattering] 685 00:39:48,213 --> 00:39:49,766 - [Narrator] Back at camp Nou, 686 00:39:49,801 --> 00:39:52,838 Messi was still achieving record-breaking seasons. 687 00:39:52,873 --> 00:39:56,773 During the 2015, 2016 season at Barcelona, 688 00:39:56,808 --> 00:39:59,776 Messi went on to win his fifth Ballon d'Or, 689 00:39:59,811 --> 00:40:02,020 breaking yet again another record 690 00:40:02,054 --> 00:40:03,987 for most Ballon d'Ors achieved, 691 00:40:04,022 --> 00:40:06,473 an achievement that has only ever been done 692 00:40:06,507 --> 00:40:09,890 by one other player, Cristiano Ronaldo. 693 00:40:09,924 --> 00:40:11,443 [upbeat music] 694 00:40:11,478 --> 00:40:13,790 - There's obviously never any question that Lionel Messi 695 00:40:13,825 --> 00:40:14,895 wouldn't win the Ballon d'Or. 696 00:40:14,929 --> 00:40:17,000 He did it for the first time in 2010, 697 00:40:17,035 --> 00:40:20,210 he was 22 years old only. 698 00:40:20,245 --> 00:40:24,111 For Messi to be on that list is, of course, important. 699 00:40:24,145 --> 00:40:27,217 Any footballer is going to look at their legacy 700 00:40:27,252 --> 00:40:28,667 in terms of titles won. 701 00:40:28,702 --> 00:40:30,738 And those include individual titles 702 00:40:30,773 --> 00:40:31,981 as well as club titles. 703 00:40:32,015 --> 00:40:33,948 So if you are to be considered 704 00:40:33,983 --> 00:40:35,467 as one of the best we've ever seen, 705 00:40:35,502 --> 00:40:37,676 you have to win the Ballon d'Or. 706 00:40:37,711 --> 00:40:40,955 You don't have to win it five times, but you might as well. 707 00:40:40,990 --> 00:40:43,820 - [Narrator] Moving on to the 2016, 17 708 00:40:43,855 --> 00:40:46,961 UEFA Champions League, Barcelona went on to win 709 00:40:46,996 --> 00:40:49,447 one of the best comebacks ever seen before 710 00:40:49,481 --> 00:40:51,103 in Champions League history. 711 00:40:51,138 --> 00:40:55,211 Barcelona beat Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 in their second leg, 712 00:40:55,245 --> 00:40:58,456 after losing 4-nil in the first leg. 713 00:40:58,490 --> 00:41:01,631 MSN showed their true strength during this game 714 00:41:01,666 --> 00:41:03,564 with Suarez opening the match with a goal 715 00:41:03,599 --> 00:41:05,842 within the first three minutes, 716 00:41:05,877 --> 00:41:10,260 Neymar scoring two goals, and Messi scoring a penalty. 717 00:41:10,295 --> 00:41:12,884 - [Announcer] Neymar, chips it forward 718 00:41:12,918 --> 00:41:14,989 and it's Sergi Roberto! 719 00:41:15,024 --> 00:41:17,267 He's done it, can you believe this? 720 00:41:17,302 --> 00:41:18,061 [crowd cheering] 721 00:41:18,096 --> 00:41:19,787 Oh my, goodness me. 722 00:41:20,719 --> 00:41:22,825 This is fantasy standard. 723 00:41:24,033 --> 00:41:27,070 Pinch yourself, that really happened. 724 00:41:27,105 --> 00:41:29,003 - [Narrator] This game displayed their true skill 725 00:41:29,038 --> 00:41:31,178 as a squad, and despite losing out 726 00:41:31,212 --> 00:41:34,181 during the Champions League quarter-final to Juventus, 727 00:41:34,215 --> 00:41:37,425 that one game stood out as one of the best displays 728 00:41:37,460 --> 00:41:41,015 of Barcelona's strength and determination as a squad. 729 00:41:41,050 --> 00:41:44,536 - [Announcer] Barcelona, it was mission impossible, 730 00:41:44,571 --> 00:41:46,400 but it wasn't impossible. 731 00:41:46,434 --> 00:41:49,955 They pulled off one of the greatest wins 732 00:41:49,990 --> 00:41:51,854 in European history. 733 00:41:51,888 --> 00:41:56,514 - [Narrator] In 2017, Barcelona lost Neymar to PSG. 734 00:41:56,548 --> 00:41:59,033 It was the end of the MSN trio. 735 00:41:59,068 --> 00:42:00,966 But despite the recent loss 736 00:42:01,001 --> 00:42:02,865 of one of their strongest strikers, 737 00:42:02,899 --> 00:42:04,625 Barcelona still went on to win 738 00:42:04,660 --> 00:42:08,077 the 2017, 2018 La Liga Championship, 739 00:42:08,111 --> 00:42:10,907 making this their 25th trophy. 740 00:42:10,942 --> 00:42:15,912 [dramatic music] [singing in foreign language] 741 00:42:46,943 --> 00:42:49,774 - [Narrator] To this date, Messi's carer at Barcelona 742 00:42:49,808 --> 00:42:51,430 continues to thrive. 743 00:42:51,465 --> 00:42:55,952 In the season of 2018, 2019, Messi became the top scorer 744 00:42:55,987 --> 00:42:58,092 in Europe once again, earing him 745 00:42:58,127 --> 00:43:00,612 his sixth Europe Golden Shoe, 746 00:43:00,647 --> 00:43:03,166 an achievement that only he has achieved, 747 00:43:03,201 --> 00:43:06,031 with Cristiano Ronaldo behind him with four. 748 00:43:30,884 --> 00:43:33,887 [audience applauds] 749 00:45:03,770 --> 00:45:06,738 [audience applauds] 750 00:45:08,291 --> 00:45:10,397 - There've been so many brilliant Messi goals 751 00:45:10,431 --> 00:45:12,502 over the years, obviously the one against Getafe, 752 00:45:12,537 --> 00:45:15,160 the sort of Maradona-esque goal. 753 00:45:15,195 --> 00:45:19,268 He scored a fantastic goal in the 2014 World Cup Finals, 754 00:45:19,302 --> 00:45:23,065 which saved Argentina, actually, in a 3-2 win over Nigeria 755 00:45:23,099 --> 00:45:25,757 right at the end of the game, brilliant, brilliant goal. 756 00:45:25,792 --> 00:45:27,276 - [Announcer] Messi strikes. 757 00:45:27,310 --> 00:45:28,898 [crowd cheering] 758 00:45:28,933 --> 00:45:30,141 Extraordinary! 759 00:45:31,901 --> 00:45:33,903 - But I think it's gotta be in a Barcelona shirt 760 00:45:33,938 --> 00:45:38,011 that you look back on Messi in the Champions League Finals 761 00:45:38,045 --> 00:45:39,391 that he won with them, 762 00:45:39,426 --> 00:45:42,636 particularly probably the one at Wembley in 2011 763 00:45:42,670 --> 00:45:46,674 against Manchester United when he was the outstanding player 764 00:45:46,709 --> 00:45:48,918 on the pitch, as he so often is. 765 00:45:48,953 --> 00:45:51,576 And Barcelona just toyed with United 766 00:45:51,610 --> 00:45:54,096 in with was a very, very long evening 767 00:45:54,130 --> 00:45:55,891 for Alex Ferguson's team. 768 00:45:55,925 --> 00:45:58,859 And Messi just conjured and created 769 00:45:58,894 --> 00:46:03,899 and conducted what was a fantastic Barcelona display. 770 00:46:04,762 --> 00:46:05,901 - [Announcer] Into the feet of Messi. 771 00:46:05,935 --> 00:46:06,694 [crowd cheering] 772 00:46:06,729 --> 00:46:08,731 Still in, oh Messi! 773 00:46:08,766 --> 00:46:13,771 2-1 Barcelona, and who else but Lionel Messi. 774 00:46:14,944 --> 00:46:16,981 - [Narrator] Lionel Messi is the best player 775 00:46:17,015 --> 00:46:20,812 Barcelona has ever had the pleasure to have in their squad. 776 00:46:20,847 --> 00:46:23,815 And despite having constant offers from other clubs 777 00:46:23,850 --> 00:46:26,197 around the world, he has always stayed loyal 778 00:46:26,231 --> 00:46:30,477 to the Barcelona squad and frequently calls it his home. 779 00:46:30,511 --> 00:46:33,687 - Barcelona and Messi have been together for so long now 780 00:46:33,721 --> 00:46:35,413 that it seems almost inconceivable 781 00:46:35,447 --> 00:46:37,311 that they could ever part. 782 00:46:38,243 --> 00:46:39,797 It may happen. 783 00:46:39,831 --> 00:46:43,076 But I think the reason that he's always turned down 784 00:46:43,110 --> 00:46:45,975 approaches from any other club is partly, 785 00:46:46,010 --> 00:46:47,805 if you go back to his childhood, 786 00:46:47,839 --> 00:46:51,981 he's from a family that has some roots in Catalonia. 787 00:46:52,016 --> 00:46:54,812 He's very aware of what Barcelona did for him 788 00:46:54,846 --> 00:46:57,884 with his medical problems as a very young player. 789 00:46:57,918 --> 00:47:00,231 He only really speaks Spanish, 790 00:47:00,265 --> 00:47:03,441 and he is very, very comfortable in the city, 791 00:47:03,475 --> 00:47:05,374 in the environment of Barcelona, 792 00:47:05,408 --> 00:47:07,272 who have given him everything he could ever want 793 00:47:07,307 --> 00:47:09,861 in terms of trophies and success, 794 00:47:09,896 --> 00:47:12,208 working under the likes of Guardiola, 795 00:47:12,243 --> 00:47:14,728 winning just about everything there is to win. 796 00:47:14,762 --> 00:47:16,868 Barcelona have given him all of that, 797 00:47:16,903 --> 00:47:20,216 there have been no disappointments in his club career. 798 00:47:20,251 --> 00:47:21,977 All the disappointments have been 799 00:47:22,011 --> 00:47:24,496 with Argentina in his international career. 800 00:47:24,531 --> 00:47:27,914 So I think it would be a tremendous wrench 801 00:47:27,948 --> 00:47:30,848 for Messi to walk out on Barcelona. 802 00:47:30,882 --> 00:47:33,851 - [Narrator] At the age of 32, Messi is still regarded 803 00:47:33,885 --> 00:47:37,889 as one of the best players to have ever graced the sport. 804 00:47:37,924 --> 00:47:39,477 He is still breaking records 805 00:47:39,511 --> 00:47:42,273 and still putting in monumental performances 806 00:47:42,307 --> 00:47:45,483 week in, week out at Barcelona. 807 00:47:45,517 --> 00:47:49,487 In December 2019, Lionel Messi once again shattered 808 00:47:49,521 --> 00:47:52,007 another world record as he went on to win 809 00:47:52,041 --> 00:47:54,250 his sixth Ballon d'Or trophy, 810 00:47:54,285 --> 00:47:56,494 beating Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk 811 00:47:56,528 --> 00:47:58,910 and Juventus's Cristiano Ronaldo 812 00:47:58,945 --> 00:48:02,017 for the title of the World's Greatest Player. 813 00:48:02,051 --> 00:48:04,916 This sixth win pushed him ahead of Ronaldo 814 00:48:04,951 --> 00:48:06,642 and made him the only player 815 00:48:06,676 --> 00:48:09,058 to receive six Ballon d'Or trophies 816 00:48:09,093 --> 00:48:11,509 in the history of football. 817 00:48:11,543 --> 00:48:14,098 - I think many people thought we'd never see 818 00:48:14,132 --> 00:48:16,859 anybody like Diego Maradona, 819 00:48:16,894 --> 00:48:20,242 and out of the same country came Lionel Messi, 820 00:48:20,276 --> 00:48:23,107 and has done everything that Maradona did and more, 821 00:48:23,141 --> 00:48:25,074 in terms of club success. 822 00:48:25,109 --> 00:48:29,699 And I think to be able to to do it for a decade and a half, 823 00:48:29,734 --> 00:48:32,219 being kicked week in, week out is something 824 00:48:32,254 --> 00:48:35,015 that even Maradona's body couldn't stand up to. 825 00:48:35,050 --> 00:48:36,879 And Messi has done that. 826 00:48:36,914 --> 00:48:39,295 It's the sheer consistency, 827 00:48:39,330 --> 00:48:41,815 the incredible numbers of goals, 828 00:48:41,849 --> 00:48:44,128 every season, not just a season every now and again, 829 00:48:44,162 --> 00:48:47,269 but every season, which actually 830 00:48:47,303 --> 00:48:51,894 has to probably put Messi even above Maradona. 831 00:48:51,929 --> 00:48:53,896 And that is really saying something. 832 00:48:53,931 --> 00:48:55,898 - [Narrator] But although he is known for his skills 833 00:48:55,933 --> 00:48:59,281 on the pitch, he is also known for his brand deals. 834 00:48:59,315 --> 00:49:03,216 Since 2006, Messi has had an ongoing partnership 835 00:49:03,250 --> 00:49:06,702 with adidas, supplying him with boots and clothing. 836 00:49:06,736 --> 00:49:10,706 In 2017, the brand took this relationship a step further, 837 00:49:10,740 --> 00:49:14,227 pushing forward a lifetime sponsorship deal with him. 838 00:49:14,261 --> 00:49:16,539 To this date, he is frequently promoting 839 00:49:16,574 --> 00:49:19,266 their merchandise and hosting their events. 840 00:50:27,679 --> 00:50:29,819 - [Narrator] Alongside that, he has also worked 841 00:50:29,854 --> 00:50:33,064 with brands such as Pepsi and EA Sports, 842 00:50:33,099 --> 00:50:35,446 having his face on the front of their products 843 00:50:35,480 --> 00:50:38,000 and having him star in their commercials. 844 00:50:38,035 --> 00:50:42,004 But in 2019, he also opened up his own clothing brand. 845 00:50:42,039 --> 00:50:44,386 The store, known as The Messi Store, 846 00:50:44,420 --> 00:50:47,009 sells branded clothing that has been endorsed 847 00:50:47,044 --> 00:50:49,839 and selected by Messi himself. 848 00:50:49,874 --> 00:50:52,566 [crowd cheering] 849 00:51:00,988 --> 00:51:03,439 Because of these intelligent business deals, 850 00:51:03,474 --> 00:51:06,615 Messi has now become the second wealthiest football player 851 00:51:06,649 --> 00:51:10,067 in the world, just behind Cristiano Ronaldo. 852 00:51:10,101 --> 00:51:13,449 But Messi is also known for more than just his brand deals. 853 00:51:13,484 --> 00:51:16,003 He also does a lot of work for charities 854 00:51:16,038 --> 00:51:18,040 and has set up his own foundation, 855 00:51:18,075 --> 00:51:20,249 called the Leo Messi Foundation, 856 00:51:20,284 --> 00:51:21,871 which has helped support children 857 00:51:21,906 --> 00:51:23,735 from less fortunate backgrounds, 858 00:51:23,770 --> 00:51:25,012 children with cancer 859 00:51:25,047 --> 00:51:28,188 and children with live-changing disabilities. 860 00:51:28,223 --> 00:51:31,053 [uplifting music] 861 00:51:39,268 --> 00:51:42,133 it's safe to say that he has inspired millions 862 00:51:42,168 --> 00:51:43,755 all over the world. 863 00:51:43,790 --> 00:51:46,655 And although he is one of the quietest and reserved players 864 00:51:46,689 --> 00:51:50,072 in the sport, everyone knows the name Lionel Messi 865 00:51:50,107 --> 00:51:52,385 because of his incredible performances 866 00:51:52,419 --> 00:51:56,009 on the pitch and his community work off the pitch. 867 00:51:56,043 --> 00:51:59,599 - A whole generation of kids, boys and girls, 868 00:51:59,633 --> 00:52:04,569 have been absolutely inspired by Lionel Messi 869 00:52:05,881 --> 00:52:07,745 to play the game and to pretend to be Messi 870 00:52:07,779 --> 00:52:10,057 in the back garden, in the streets, in the yard. 871 00:52:10,092 --> 00:52:13,647 And that's probably his legacy around the world. 872 00:52:13,682 --> 00:52:16,271 I think his legacy in Argentina 873 00:52:16,305 --> 00:52:19,274 is probably quite a burden for him to bear, 874 00:52:19,308 --> 00:52:21,759 because for all that he's done, he's done it in Europe. 875 00:52:21,793 --> 00:52:24,002 He hasn't really done it with a national team. 876 00:52:24,037 --> 00:52:27,005 They haven't won a World Cup or a Copa America 877 00:52:27,040 --> 00:52:29,387 while he's been a part of that squad. 878 00:52:29,422 --> 00:52:31,631 So while he satisfied the world, 879 00:52:31,665 --> 00:52:34,220 perhaps back in Argentina they're still hungry 880 00:52:34,254 --> 00:52:36,912 for the next Messi who can do even more. 881 00:52:36,946 --> 00:52:40,295 - [Narrator] Messi's legacy will live on for years to come. 882 00:52:40,329 --> 00:52:42,918 And although he is approaching retirement age, 883 00:52:42,952 --> 00:52:46,163 his ability is still at a world standard. 884 00:52:46,197 --> 00:52:48,648 He is the captain of Barcelona 885 00:52:48,682 --> 00:52:52,169 and one of the most idolized players of all time. 886 00:52:52,203 --> 00:52:54,619 No matter how long he keeps playing for, 887 00:52:54,654 --> 00:52:56,276 he will always be remembered 888 00:52:56,311 --> 00:52:59,245 as one of the greatest players of all time. 889 00:53:02,248 --> 00:53:04,284 - Well, it's really difficult to imagine 890 00:53:04,319 --> 00:53:07,908 that there's anything about Lionel Messi's life 891 00:53:07,943 --> 00:53:10,635 in Barcelona and with Barcelona football club 892 00:53:10,670 --> 00:53:14,052 that isn't very nice indeed, 893 00:53:14,087 --> 00:53:18,540 however he's never played in his native Argentina, 894 00:53:18,574 --> 00:53:21,922 he's never played a senior game in that country. 895 00:53:21,957 --> 00:53:25,029 It may be that he goes back to Rosario 896 00:53:25,063 --> 00:53:28,550 and decides he wants to play for Newell's Old Boys, 897 00:53:28,584 --> 00:53:30,931 the club he supported in the way 898 00:53:30,966 --> 00:53:34,038 that Diego Maradona was always linked with Boca Juniors, 899 00:53:34,072 --> 00:53:37,041 and couldn't resist going back there. 900 00:53:37,075 --> 00:53:40,838 It may be that Messi decides that he does want to go back 901 00:53:40,872 --> 00:53:45,877 and play for his public in his city with his club. 902 00:53:46,740 --> 00:53:48,017 - [Narrator] He is the magician. 903 00:53:48,052 --> 00:53:49,950 And the name Lionel Messi 904 00:53:49,985 --> 00:53:52,919 will forever live in the history books. 905 00:53:52,953 --> 00:53:55,439 [upbeat music]