It's Not Easy to be Leo!

 

On This Day in 1987, Rosario, Argentina

Yes, Lionel Messi turns 34 today, you all know that very well. However, when you're celebrating his greatness on this day, Messi can think a while, what he has achieved and lost in this 34 years? He could not bring the World Cup for his country, he may suddenly remember not being able to keep this promise to himself.

If you are a football fan, Messi must be a part of your life for a long time. You may remember;  from school to college, when the boundaries of the university have been crossed, beard has grown on Messi's clean shaven face. Messi has cut his long hair, you also started to be aged little by little. Just one thing has not changed, on a weekend night you were thrilled to see Messi magic as before. Seeing those unbelievable free-kicks, your madness has increased day by day. In a life full of brick, wood, sweat and rubbish, when you are tired, you waited for Champions League nights. For the Ronaldo-Messi Clasico over the weekend, you texted the office boss, "It will be a little late to come to the office on Monday." Depression has come into your life, joy has come, love or breakups may have come;  But as you know, Messi will hardly disappoint you, you eagerly waited for that moment. But you know very well that what is going to happen if Messi has the ball on his feet. You know, the opposing defender knows, the referee or the spectators from each and every part of the world also knows. After getting the ball on his left foot, you can see that the inevitable race will start now.  One or two defenders will fall from side to side, the way all the cars in front move to make way for the VIP. Opponent defenders will try to tackle, maybe some of them can even put their feet on Messi to stop him. But you know, Messi won't stop. When Little Messi fell on the field of Rosario, he would shake off the dust and stand up again and again, but still he would not miss the ball.  The ball would stick like a magnet at Messi's feet until he fell when he grew up. You are watching, running to the right, Messi is just looking for a place to make his shot,  Defenders and the Goal Keepers know that too — just a compass measured shot with that heavenly left foot. The whole scene like the slow motion of a movie. It was repeatedly said that this is how Messi will come and take shots from this corner during the practice session. But is it possible to stop his destiny? The goalkeeper knows that from which side Messi will take the shot during free-kick. But everything seems like fairytale. That curved free-kick penetrates into the net like an infallible missile.

On this present day, you might be a little sad when thinking, gradually the time is running out. The age has marked the wrong step of 30 long ago. The symphony of retirement has started. It's not that age hasn't started to left its mark on Leo. He no longer contributes to the defense as he used to, he doesn't begin that incredible regular run like before with the ball, he easily got stuck in front of opponent defense. Now the focus is more on play making than scoring himself.  But what is strange, even at this age, the team still depends on him for the goal. The team still loses its way without him.  But everything has an end.  No matter how essential Messi is at the moment, there will be a time when he'll have to bid adieu. Messi is no longer wearing the number 10 Argentina or Barcelona jersey  you'll have to accept that reality because every birthday leads to that reality gradually. Even if you are not a Messi fan, you may feel a little down, thinking about that day. There will be football without Messi, many of us are not accustomed to that scene!

He has won everything possible for Barcelona. Even then, we talk more about his failures rather than his achievements. The dissatisfactions with the World Cup comes back every four years.  Who knows, maybe it'll continue to hurt in the he next World Cup also. Question arises about his leadership skill.

But this man could have got everything if he wished. He got the Spanish citizenship at the age of 19. If he wished, he could have spent the rest of his career wearing a red jersey. After so much neglect, it took almost a lifetime to get love from Argentina. Maradona, Tevez have grown up playing on the footpath, the passionate Argentines have embraced them like local boys but Messi was always like a rich kid to them, who occasionally came to Argentina for holidays.  He has never had more charisma than Maradona, and even Tevez has been much more popular than him all the time. Even his statue was smashed in his hometown. Maradona has never had to be like anyone else, but Messi had to be like Maradona through out his career.

But Messi has repeatedly reminded that he is always an Argentine. He still has contact with his childhood friends in Rosario, often rushed there to spend the holidays. Despite being in Spain for so many years, Rosario's local food is his topmost favourite. Even after the failure of the World Cup, he has always tried to do something for his country. After the so called 'Retirement Drama', he wore the blue-white jersey again. Argentina too had to rely on that '30+ aged' Messi to go to the World Cup, otherwise the wheel of the chariot would have broken! And that old horse is also ready to sacrifice everything for a World Cup for the country.

Leo may not have answered to many criticisms. But he could have given if he wished.  He has spent his entire career in Barcelona. Criticis often mock that he doesn't want to face the challenges of other leagues. There is so much fuss about the World Cup, but Maradona's World Cup dream might not have fulfilled if Buruchaga had not scored. But if Higuain was like Buruchaga, that would end the argument. However, Messi did not complain about anything. Maybe if he could express himself a little more, he could answer many questions, at least he could say his heart out. Maybe he didn't prove himself as a 'leader' on the field because he always likes to keep himself in the behind. However, if Messi wished, he could have said that he did not only inspire Barcelona with his performance, ​​but Argentina has relyed on his shoulders ever since he started playing. But he remained silent all the time.

Whether Messi is in the list of the greatest of all time or not or Ronald or Messi who's the best — such arguments are meaningless. It would be childish to define him with a Ballon d'Or or a World Cup. It doesn't matter if you are a supporter of Barcelona or Argentina or not, or if you love him or hate him. You can only imagine yourself in the place of that Afghan child named Murtaza Ahmadi with that plastic LM10 jersey who doesn't want to leave Messi in any way. Messi will actually survive among many children like Murtaza. There may be a lot of writing and criticism about his failures - but you know what? all of this doesn't even matter! As Messi said, even today he enjoys being on the field, just as much when playing on the streets of Rosario as a child. How many people like Messi have the true joy of playing football? And only a few days left, why would you be deprived of that pure joy? The joy of walking this path, the joy of life...

Happy Birthday Leo!

✍🏻 Subham Dey