WEBVTT FILE 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]