As I got ready for the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, it felt like getting ready for a magic show. The magician was all set to step onto the stage. The deck of cards was ready. The hat sat on the table, waiting for the rabbit to be pulled out of it. A fearless, always-smiling assistant stood ready to play their part.
At the MetLife Stadium, as Lionel Messi walked out, it felt like the magician was preparing for one final Houdini act. Even the neutrals tuned in to see if the 39-year-old could actually do it and create history. Some would even argue it was his destiny.
Yet, much like the famous Breaking the Magician’s Code documentary series from the late 1990s, Spain stripped away the illusion and disarmed the magic Messi had.
The Argentine captain cut an isolated figure, tears rolling down his cheeks as he watched Spain lift the trophy.
For me, it felt like a moment of genuine disappointment.
A few years ago, it would have been a sight I would have enjoyed. My Manchester United allegiance meant I grew up as a Cristiano Ronaldo fan.
After all, twice Messi ensured my team was humbled in the UEFA Champions League final as he took Barcelona to new heights.
But somehow, despite having a work shift just a few hours later, I found myself awake at 4 am, scrolling through social media, waiting for his response.
Or, to be more precise, waiting for news of his retirement from international football.
ENJOYING THE MESSI PHENOMENON
It wasn’t until the 2022 World Cup that I decided to enjoy Messi as a player without any bias.
By then, he had already left his home, Barcelona, and was struggling to find his footing at PSG while trying to propel them to major honours.
The start wasn’t ideal. The defeat to Saudi Arabia at the FIFA World Cup 2022 raised fresh questions about whether his international career was ever destined to reach the heights of Pele or Maradona.
But having watched him terrorise teams over the years, you always knew the famous magic trick was just around the corner.
That’s exactly what happened.
Messi began turning matches on their head, carrying Argentina into the knockout rounds. Much like the fans, his teammates rallied around him, making his dream of winning the World Cup their own.
Even in what was probably the greatest World Cup final of all time, Messi was pushed to his limits by Kylian Mbappe and France.
But just when Argentina needed him the most, the rabbit emerged from the hat in the form of a brace that delivered his first World Cup title.
And, as the famous Peter Drury said that night in Qatar, Messi finally shook hands with paradise.
Fast-forward to 2026, and the doubts lingered.
Messi was no longer playing in Europe. He had traded the bright lights for the more laid-back setting of Miami.
He had become the biggest attraction in Major League Soccer, a league often labelled as the retirement home for football’s greatest names. Going up against opponents starring in far stronger leagues meant Messi once again had a point to prove.
Then came the match against Algeria.
A hat-trick silenced the doubters and perhaps even reminded Messi himself that his old tricks could still leave audiences spellbound.
Soon enough, he broke the record for the most goals in World Cup history, and once again, it felt like Argentina was rallying around him. Their mission was simple: make their Messiah a world champion again.
“We know Messi is 39 years old, he has everything a footballer could dream, and then he is still fighting like as the best. So for us, there’s only one thing left, give EVERYTHING we have, run for him and for Argentina,” an emotional Giuliano Simeone said during a post-match interview after their semi-final win against England.
They carried him and celebrated the phenomenon as their greatest prize.
Sometimes, it felt even more valuable than the World Cup trophy itself.
Goals dried up for Messi after that, but his influence never did.
Two assists against England were enough to send Argentina into another World Cup final.
Messi ended the tournament with eight goals and four assists.
The similarities between his 2022 and 2026 World Cup campaigns didn’t end there.
SUPERMAN IS HUMAN
When I watched the 2025 version of Superman, there was something fascinating about seeing one of the world’s greatest superheroes become a little more human.
You don’t often see Superman delivering a monologue about being just like everyone else or navigating relationship issues with Lois Lane.
Messi may be Superman whenever the ball is at his feet, but he has always been that introverted, shy boy from Rosario.
While he has often shown flashes of emotion on the pitch, the World Cups of 2022 and 2026 reminded everyone that he was, indeed, human.
No one can forget his fiery celebrations against the Netherlands and Louis van Gaal, or his famous “que mira bobo” line aimed at Wout Weghorst.
This time around, there were tears of joy after his hat-trick against Algeria.
After Argentina survived a major scare against Egypt in the Round of 16, Messi once again struggled to hold back the tears.
Even the final served as a reminder that Messi alone could not carry Argentina over the line.
It was a harsh lesson Spain delivered.
LEAVING AS THE GOAT
Whether you like him or not, looking back at his last two World Cup campaigns, it becomes clear why so many regard Messi as the GOAT.
There is certainly no disrespect to Ronaldo, but Messi simply ticks almost every box.
On the field, all he needed was a single moment to change a game and inspire his team to victory.
His biggest admirer was perhaps his own manager, Lionel Scaloni, who believed the debate had already ended before Argentina even reached the final.
“There are no longer any doubts that he is the greatest footballer in history,” said a proud Scaloni after the win over England.
Messi’s greatness was never limited to what he did with the ball.
It was also reflected in his ability to bring teammates together for a common purpose.
Even when the odds seemed stacked against them, Argentina kept believing and kept pushing.
So, as Messi stood there in tears after the final whistle, the reaction from fans and rivals alike was not one of celebration, but gratitude.
Gratitude for the maestro and the magic he had given the footballing world.
As my shift finally came to an end on Monday, only one thought remained.
Enjoy the career of Lionel Messi.
Whether he decides to retire soon or not, it feels like his magic on the international stage has reached its final chapter.
All I could say in the end was:
“Thank you, Messi, for that one final act of magic.”
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