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Lionel Messi has achieved unprecedented success on the field, widely regarded as one of the all-time football greats . He is the all-time top scorer for both FC Barcelona (672 goals) and La Liga , and holds eight Ballon d’Or awards along with numerous league and international titles . Messi himself notes, “When I get on the pitch I can forget everything, and that’s where I do my talking” , underscoring that his on-field excellence defines his star image.

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Lionel Messi’s soccer career: Stats, trophies, honors

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Here’s a roundup of notable stats and records in Lionel Messi’s legendary soccer career.

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The Rise of Barcelona’s Young Prodigy: Lionel Messi

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The Rise of Barcelona’s Young Prodigy: Lionel Messi

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At just 19 years old, Lionel Messi delivered one of the most iconic goals in football history during the 2007 Copa del Rey match between Barcelona and Getafe. In this quarter-final encounter, Messi started his run from midfield, dribbling past five Getafe defenders before calmly slotting the ball into the far corner. The entire sequence lasted only 12 seconds and covered approximately 60 meters.

This remarkable goal was widely regarded as Messi’s recreation of Diego Maradona’s legendary “Goal of the Century,” symbolizing his arrival as a world-class football star. The goal has since been officially recognized by FC Barcelona as one of the greatest in the club’s history.

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19岁的梅西带球一过六 解说员都激动疯了_哔哩哔哩_bilibili

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19岁的梅西带球一过六 解说员都激动疯了, 视频播放量 3602951、弹幕量 2942、点赞数 54601、投硬币枚数 5491、收藏人数 17572、转发人数 6567, 视频作者 lookstyle, 作者简介 ，相关视频：足坛经典老番“俺噶啦梅西”，梅西内马尔经典2过8，试一下远距离任意球 #梅西#女球迷，梅西连过五人世纪进球，8岁梅西的珍贵影像，给你俩窝窝是什么梗【梗指南】，梅西进球时的西班牙语解说（空耳，俺噶了梅西），梅西+内马尔，十个人也防不住啊！，“你和梅西一对一时，你死定了”，”金球级别的过人”

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Messi’s on-field legacy has translated into lucrative global endorsements. He has a long-term partnership with Adidas – reportedly a lifetime deal (about $25M/year) – featuring an exclusive “Messi” line of boots and apparel (Ian, 2024). He’s also appeared in major campaigns for Pepsi (notably the “Now Is What You Make It” World Cup ads), Coca-Cola, Mastercard, Huawei, and Turkish Airlines (Ian, 2024). These partnerships leverage his universal appeal. For instance, ESPN noted that the announcement of his move to MLS led to a “Messi effect” – social media followersm exploded and ticket prices sky-rocketed before he even signed (Surendran, 2023). Analysts point out that Messi’s endorsements boost brand sales and visibility, in part because his image is “relatively controversy-free” and enjoys the “trust and admiration” of fans worldwide (Ian, 2024).

Since signing with Adidas in 2006, Messi has become the brand’s most iconic football figure — the face of Adidas Messi product lines and global campaigns. Unlike flashy counterparts such as Cristiano Ronaldo with Nike, Messi’s Adidas identity centers on authenticity, humility, and precision, values that align closely with his “star image” as a grounded genius.

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Lionel Messi’s Endorsement Deals: Impact on Brands

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Lionel Messi’s endorsement deals offer a compelling insight into sports marketing and brand management dynamics.

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The Coronation of the King: Messi’s World Cup Triumph (2021–2022)

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The Coronation of the King: Messi’s World Cup Triumph (2021–2022)

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Lionel Messi’s 2022 FIFA World Cup victory with Argentina is widely regarded as the ultimate completion of his star narrative — the moment that solidified his transformation from football genius to global legend. After years of near-misses, heartbreaks, and international criticism, Messi’s triumph in Qatar represented not only sporting excellence but also emotional redemption. His 2021 Copa América win had already filled the long-standing gap in his national team career, but the 2022 World Cup sealed his immortality.

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“Top-Right Messi”: the statistical quadrant you always see

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In football analytics, “The Messi Top Right” has become a cultural shorthand for Lionel Messi’s extraordinary ability to place the ball into the top-right corner of the goal — a combination of precision, control, and composure. Statistical analyses and heat maps over his career show that Messi frequently targets this zone during free kicks and open-play shots, creating a symbolic association between skill and perfection.

In other words: very high output (goals/assists) and very high involvement/volume. This reinforces his image as not just a prolific scorer, but a multi-faceted contributor.
For instance, public statistical sources show:

According to MessiStats.com, up to now Messi has played 1,131 games and scored 891 goals plus 399 assists. https://www.messistats.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

The Reddit thread “Your usual Top Right Messi statistics graph” shows fans acknowledging that in such graphs Messi dominates the top-right quadrant. https://www.reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/1i3ovix/your_usual_top_right_messi_statistics_graph/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

This “top-right” positioning has become a kind of meme/statistical shorthand: “If you’re in the top-right, you’re elite; Messi is beyond that.”

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Video: The Top Right Messi: A Statistical Anomaly in Football

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Video: The Top Right Messi: A Statistical Anomaly in Football

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Messi’s “top-right” strikes have become more than just goals—they represent a statistical pattern and a cultural metaphor for technical mastery. Data from The Analyst and FBref show his consistent preference for this zone, while media outlets such as BBC Sport highlight how this precision defines his “star image” of control, calmness, and genius under pressure.

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The Top Right Messi: A Statistical Anomaly in Football

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Messi consistently occupies the top-right corner of performance graphs: high volume + high efficiency = elite

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It visualises his coherence: high performance and high activity together.

It suggests a symbolic meaning: “He’s on another level” rather than just good.

It can hint at change over time: Does Messi’s “top-rightness” evolve (stay stable, climb, or decline) across his career phases?

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Media and Symbolism – “The GOAT” Narrative

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Media and Symbolism – “The GOAT” Narrative

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FIFA’s official post after Argentina’s victory — “The GOAT 🐐” — became one of the most viral football tweets in history, symbolizing a universal acknowledgment of Messi’s supremacy.
This moment reinforced his star image as both humble and divine — a player of the people who achieved something transcendent.

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From Adidas Icon to Global Brand Ambassador

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From Adidas Icon to Global Brand Ambassador

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Messi’s long-term partnership with Adidas exemplifies how his star image translates into commercial storytelling. Rather than portraying excess or wealth, Adidas amplifies Messi’s message of humility and mastery — making his image a symbol of effort and authenticity rather than luxury.

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Impossible Is Nothing - Messi ( adidas commercial )

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The Luxury Turn – From Footballer to Global Lifestyle Icon

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The Luxury Turn – From Footballer to Global Lifestyle Icon

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After his global fame peaked post-World Cup 2022, Messi’s endorsements evolved from sportswear to luxury and lifestyle branding — including partnerships with Louis Vuitton, Pepsi, and Lay’s. This transition shows the duality of his star image: both the “humble boy from Rosario” and the “global icon of excellence.”

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Lionel Messi for Louis Vuitton: Horizons Never End | LOUIS VUITTON

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Through Pepsi and Lay’s, Messi retains connection with ordinary fans, balancing global fame with accessibility.

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His Louis Vuitton 2022 campaign (shot with Cristiano Ronaldo) went viral, symbolizing both competition and respect — turning football into high art.

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Through Pepsi and Lay’s, Messi retains connection with ordinary fans, balancing global fame with accessibility.

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Early campaigns emphasized his speed and technique, while post-2018 content highlights his leadership and legacy.

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Most Adidas campaigns feature blue/white color palettes (echoing Argentina) and close-ups of Messi’s focused expressions — creating coherence across years of ads.

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New! Lionel Messi adidas f50 adiZero Prime ad - 2011 HD

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Adidas presents Messi as the symbol of craftsmanship over glamour, reinforcing his calm and humble personality.

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Impossible Is Nothing - Messi ( adidas commercial )

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In the public eye, Messi is celebrated for humility and philanthropy. Media often label him the “quietest superstar” – he rarely seeks attention off the field. His Instagram and interviews focus on football or family, avoiding sensationalism. Notably, Messi has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010 and founded the Leo Messi Foundation to improve children’s health care, reflecting a socially responsible side of his image. These aspects underscore a coherent public persona: despite immense fame and wealth, he remains down-to-earth. Fans and brands alike trust his “relatively controversy-free” reputation, which fits with how he is portrayed as a role model and philanthropic figure.

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Humility and Family Values — “The Quiet Superstar”

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Humility and Family Values — “The Quiet Superstar”

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Messi’s humility defines his public identity. Unlike many celebrity athletes, he maintains a private and low-profile lifestyle. Media outlets such as ESPN and The Guardian often describe him as “the humble genius” who lets his football do the talking.

His lifelong relationship with his childhood sweetheart, Antonela Roccuzzo, is central to his public persona. Their love story—from growing up in Rosario to raising three children together—has reinforced Messi’s image as a devoted family man. On social media, he avoids excessive luxury displays, instead sharing moments of family life, training, and celebration with teammates.

This modesty contrasts sharply with the glamour-driven narratives common in contemporary sports, making Messi’s authenticity part of his global appeal.

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Leo Messi (@leomessi) • Instagram photos and videos

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8M likes, 41K comments - leomessi on October 25, 2025: “Qué semana hermosa… gracias por todo y buen finde! 😃❤️”.

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Philanthropy and Global Responsibility — “Messi the Humanitarian”

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Philanthropy and Global Responsibility — “Messi the Humanitarian”

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Beyond the pitch, Messi has cultivated a socially responsible image through sustained philanthropic efforts. Since 2010, he has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, focusing on children’s healthcare, education, and rights. His Leo Messi Foundation funds hospital construction, youth sports programs, and humanitarian initiatives across Argentina, Spain, and several African countries.

In 2020, he donated €1 million to hospitals in Barcelona and Rosario to support COVID-19 relief efforts, further strengthening his public image as a compassionate leader. These actions portray Messi as not only a global athlete but also a humanitarian figure who uses fame to create tangible social impact.

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Help End Child Deaths - UNICEF Ambassador Leo Messi | UNICEF

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Media Representation and Fan Perception — “A Universal Role Model”

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Media Representation and Fan Perception — “A Universal Role Model”

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Media narratives and fan discourse consistently portray Messi as a moral exemplar in global sport. His public image has maintained coherence and stability throughout his career, largely free from controversy. Documentaries such as Messi (2014) and The Rise of the GOAT (2023) depict him as both a football genius and an emotionally grounded figure who inspires through perseverance rather than spectacle.

Across social media, Messi commands one of the world’s largest followings, with nearly 500 million Instagram followers (as of 2025). Comments often include terms like “GOAT,” “humble king,” and “true legend,” reflecting a near-universal admiration that blends athletic awe with emotional attachment.

Scholars and media analysts note that Messi’s “relatively controversy-free” profile makes him ideal for global brand partnerships and sustains his long-term influence as a role model for integrity, family, and dedication.

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Lionel Messi - The GOAT - Official Movie

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Media Narrative：The Silent Genius and His Shifting Story

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Media Narrative：The Silent Genius and His Shifting Story

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Media narratives consistently highlight Messi’s dedication to football and a personal low profile. After Argentina’s near-misses in 2014–2016, the press branded the team “fracasados” (failures), and Messi led a media boycott. However, his eventual triumphs – notably the Copa América and World Cup – “unequivocally established Messi in the hearts” of even former critics. International analysts often contrast him with flashier stars; one Argentine journalist observed that “Messi never, ever shouts”. Indeed, Messi “prefers not to play [the media] game,” letting his play “speak” for him. In short, the media story of Messi is remarkably coherent: he is framed as a silent genius whose spectacular performances and personal integrity speak louder than any spoken words.

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Silence as Identity — “The Man Who Let His Football Speak”

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Silence as Identity — “The Man Who Let His Football Speak”

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From early in his career, Messi’s quietness became central to how the media defined him. Reporters frequently remarked on his emotional reserve and aversion to drama. ESPN described him as “the player who never shouts, never performs for the cameras” (ESPN, 2016). Unlike Diego Maradona’s fiery charisma, Messi’s style was seen as understated, technical, and introspective — a reflection of his preference to “let football speak for him.”

This silence, once interpreted as emotional distance, gradually transformed into a marker of focus and authenticity. Messi’s refusal to engage in off-pitch controversies built a narrative of “purity” in sport — someone who belongs to football, not to spectacle.

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Lest there be any confusion, it must be said: He does talk sometimes.

Not a lot, certainly. Messi doesn't do news conferences before games like most other big-name players, doesn't often stop in mixed zones afterward. He doesn't even speak in most of his commercials.

Interviews with unfamiliar reporters or outlets too are rare. For this story, Messi initially agreed to a face-to-face conversation but called it off a few weeks later, without explanation, sending word that he would answer questions only if they were emailed to an associate. (Even then, he answered only certain questions, and several of the ones sent were simply ignored.) Messi and I did meet, very briefly, shaking hands the day of the photo shoot: I said "Hello." He replied "Gracias." It was lovely.

Still, there are moments. As he has gotten older (he'll turn 31 during the World Cup), Messi has put himself in certain situations in which he cracks the door.

Earlier this year, he spent nearly half an hour being interviewed for an Argentine television show and speaking at length, for him, on subjects that ranged from his children (he loves them) to how a diet filled with chocolate and carbonated beverages led to frequent bouts of on-field vomiting earlier in his career (he eats healthier now).

Messi also gave his take on the feeling that this summer will be his final chance to claim the biggest prize that has eluded him -- a World Cup title -- and make amends for the four major final defeats he has been part of with Argentina (he would like this to happen).

Sometimes he even gets remarkably candid. For example, last year he appeared on a Uruguayan television show with his close friend and Barca teammate Luis Suarez, the star of Uruguay's national team. For much of the interview, Messi was happy to be something of a sidekick, but he became more animated while participating in a discussion on the age-old question of whether it is preferable for men to sit or stand while urinating (he sits). When the host of the show expressed surprise and concern about the men soaking the toilet seat (Suarez said he pees sitting down as well), Messi calmly explained, "You just point it down," while making a helpful hand gesture.

So clearly, he does speak (even about the most personal of subjects). He concedes, in the email, that "over the years you become less timid. I now do things I never imagined I would."

But then, speaking isn't the same thing as having a voice, is it?

"Today, everyone wants to see things in the way that suits them. I prefer not to play this game."
- Lionel Messi
Among Messi's true contemporaries -- those whose fame crosses continents and cultures instead of just cities or countries -- many, if not most, choose to say something, to do something, to show something that is greater than the sum of their physical accomplishments. I don't mean philanthropy (Messi, like many athletes, invests time and money in a variety of genuinely admirable ways), but rather an engagement with the considerable platform that his preternatural ability has provided.

Ali used his fame to advocate for civil rights and protest the Vietnam War. The U.N. made Pele an ambassador for ecology and the environment. LeBron James has seized upon social justice. Messi, while seemingly doing plenty of good with his charitable foundation and his relationship with UNICEF, appears to have little interest in connecting on anything greater. Perhaps a Messi-themed amusement park, to open in China in 2020, will provide enough of his illusory presence to satisfy his ravenous fans. As Messi said at its introductory announcement: "Hopefully, they will feel that I am around when visiting the park."

Those in Spain know that proximity does not equal openness. After nearly 20 years living in Barcelona, Messi is almost never heard speaking in Catalan (it qualified as stunning news when he posted a video on social media showing his son singing a Catalan nursery rhyme), and he has never said anything substantive about Catalan independence -- by far the biggest issue facing his adopted home. How much does Messi want to avoid the subject? When I asked him directly about his opinion via email, he -- or his people -- just deleted the question.

It is the same with Argentina. Messi has pointedly chosen not to offer support for any particular changes he wants to see in the country -- which has struggled to combat poverty and crime -- nor has he told his legions of followers what he believes needs to be done to revitalize his homeland.

This is his pattern. On issues of substance, Messi is a monster's shadow: easy to see but impossible to hear. Yet despite his personal restraint, it is clear that, one way or another, regular people still feel a kinship with Messi, even in the absence of anything other than his sheer excellence.

Given, then, what Messi means to the most popular sport in the world, is his silence novel? Delightful? A throwback to a simpler time? Or is it an abdication?

"Nobody is going to say he is not a good player -- it's about a lack of identity," says Cecilia Guardati, an Argentine journalist who covered Messi when he moved to Barcelona. "The Argentinian character -- Messi doesn't have it. He does not have a strong personality like Diego Maradona."

She pauses, then says, "With Maradona, you can hate him and what he says, but everyone likes that he shouts. Messi never, ever shouts."

The Maradona comparison is one Messi cannot shake, but it is also complicated; the two men are so different despite both being Argentines and inarguably among the greatest soccer players ever. Unlike Messi, Maradona is the quintessential Argentine: brash, brilliant and occasionally belligerent, a combination that overshadows the fact that he is also a womanizer and has battled drug addiction. Of course, he did lead Argentina to a World Cup title in 1986, while Messi has lost one World Cup final and three Copa America finals.

More important, Maradona embraced his role as a likable, if overly animated, villain, an erratically enigmatic legend who was entertaining even if he was absurd. Messi, by contrast, seems to have no particular interest in being either hero or villain, preferring simply to exist as a looping highlight video -- remarkable but with no particular context.

Asked about this approach over email, Messi said, according to his PR team, that "today, there are people with a lot of interests and everyone wants to see things in the way that suits them. I prefer not to play this game." The chosen trope, repeated often by those around Messi, is that soccer is the way Messi likes to express himself. And sure, fine, fair enough. Maybe there is some charm in that. Maybe there is sincerity that someone who is so skilled that on multiple occasions police have busted drug traffickers and seized bricks of cocaine that the dealers named after him (because, naturally, it was the best) wants to limit himself to sport and nothing more.

Maybe there is some simplicity in wanting to go through public life engaging only with that which is beautiful. But is that admirable? Or is it just weak?

At a minimum, we can say this: It isn't an act. Those who knew Messi as a boy in Argentina say he has been reticent since childhood, that he was, in so many words, a quiet runt. They say that he was so innocent that all an old coach had to do to inspire him was offer an alfajor, or Argentine cookie, in exchange for each goal. (For goals scored with his head, Messi received two cookies, and to maximize his treats, he once famously dribbled through the entire opposing team, flicked the ball up in the air as he neared the goal line and headed it in.)

In Barcelona, it is the same. Messi's first coach at Barcelona's youth academy, Xavier Llorens, says he knew right away that Messi was special because of the way the ball stuck to his foot when he ran -- almost as if it was connected to his shoelaces -- but also, he adds, "he was special because of his shyness." In the dressing room, sometimes the coaches and players had to double-check that Messi was even there.

Messi did his first significant television interview in November 2003 at age 16, shortly after earning a professional contract following a season in which he scored 36 goals for his youth team. The video is remarkable if only because Messi's center-part hairstyle and clear discomfort sitting across a desk from the Barca TV personality make it difficult to look away. At one point, Messi admits, "I am more nervous here than on the pitch," explaining that "when I get on the pitch I can forget everything, and that's where I do my talking."

Years later, it remains his approach. When Messi returned to the national team last summer following his short-lived retirement, he did not do a lengthy news conference or teary sit-down. He released a short statement explaining that he still loved playing for his nation, then went out and scored a hat trick in a crucial World Cup qualifier that sent Argentina on its way to a place in Russia. It was pure Messi: Everyone knew how he felt; he didn't need to say it.

It is the same on social media. Messi has 89 million Facebook followers and 91 million on Instagram, and no plans to start a Twitter account any time soon. According to a person close to him, that is largely because he is more comfortable with images: photos of him walking with his teammates or training on the field or playing with his three sons or lounging with his wife or cuddling with Hulk. Twitter is for words; Messi prefers art.

His neighbors in Castelldefels know. They might prefer it otherwise (who wouldn't like a garrulous millionaire living next door?), but they get it. The joke in the neighborhood is that the only thing anyone ever hears from Messi is him revving his car, because his Range Rover has the sort of gritty, guttural, souped-up engine noise that can wake babies sleeping in Madrid. Sometimes those vrooms are the only sign of Messi for weeks.

One day a few years back, a neighbor tells me, a group of Ukrainian soccer fans who had just arrived in Spain decide to come to Castelldefels like pilgrims, seeking to pay homage to their beloved Messi. They bring a Ukrainian national team jersey they want to give to Messi as a gift, and they set up on the sidewalk outside his house, waiting for even a sliver of a moment when they can deliver their offering.

Hours pass. One, two, three. The neighbor inquires how long they might stay, and the men reply that they are determined to give Messi their country's jersey. Four, five, six hours go by, and the neighbor inquires once more. We must give him our jersey, he is told again. The neighbor nods and goes on his way.

The next day, the neighbor says, he receives a knock on his door. It is his gardener. The Ukrainian fans finally left after 10 hours of waiting the night before, the gardener tells him, but not before corralling the gardener and, in a last-ditch attempt to have their gift delivered, asking if he -- that is, Messi's neighbor's gardener -- might pass along the jersey to Messi on their behalf.

"So I ask the gardener, 'Did you give it to him?'" the neighbor says. "But I am laughing. And he is laughing. Because there would be a better chance if they just threw it over the fence."

The neighbor shrugs then, because he knows what everyone around here has come to realize: that no one -- not those who find Messi on Google Maps, not even those who live across the street from the place where Messi sleeps at night -- is really his neighbor. None of us. We are only his audience, his viewers, his onlookers, a crowd of millions stationed outside his cocoon, lingering as near as we can so that we might catch a glimpse of his elegance during those times he chooses to fly.

For many, that is enough. Those Ukrainian fans, bless them, just wanted to be close, just wanted to say they spent a day where the best lives, even if they really only met the guy who gardens for the guy who lives next door. They just wanted to extend their hands and feel the warmth from Messi's glow.

Do we expect more than that from our superstars? Or should we? It isn't as though Messi doesn't give us anything, you know. When he plays and the ball settles at his feet, he allows us to imagine with abandon, allows us to dream with our eyes open.

But we also know that once the ball rolls to the side, he will vanish. We know there will be no memorable advertising campaigns or political endorsements or social commentary or calls to action from Messi, know that he will not lead us anywhere other than toward the goal. With Messi, we will get only these instants. These moments. These flashes.

And it is enough because it has to be. Because Messi does not worry if we want more or need more than that from him, because Messi does not worry at all.

For the quietest superstar, the game is all that has ever mattered. The rest is just noise.
Pere Bosch contributed reporting.

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Lionel Messi only seems like the least interesting man in the world. Listen closely and his silence speaks louder than most athletes' shouts.

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From “Fracasados” to National Redemption — The Narrative Shift

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From “Fracasados” to National Redemption — The Narrative Shift

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Following Argentina’s repeated defeats between 2014 and 2016, national media harshly criticized Messi and his teammates as “fracasados” (“failures”) (ESPN, 2016). The intensity of criticism led Messi to temporarily retire from international football in 2016 and, later, to lead a team-wide media boycott in protest against unfair coverage.

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When Lionel Messi and his teammates announced their media boycott on Tuesday, it was not the first time Argentina have clashed with their local media.

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From “Fracasados” to National Redemption — The Narrative Shift

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From “Fracasados” to National Redemption — The Narrative Shift

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The redemption arc began with the 2021 Copa América triumph — Messi’s first major international title — and reached its climax with the 2022 World Cup victory. The Guardian wrote that “this victory unequivocally established Messi in the hearts of even his harshest critics” (The Guardian, 2022).
Through these triumphs, the media narrative inverted: the once-criticized captain became the embodiment of national perseverance and emotional catharsis.

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Global Media Contrast — Between Passion and Restraint

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Global Media Contrast — Between Passion and Restraint

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International media often juxtapose Messi’s stoicism with the performative passion of other global stars. BBC Sport and Marca highlight his quiet professionalism as an anomaly in an era dominated by celebrity spectacle and social media noise. While Cristiano Ronaldo’s public persona thrives on charisma and self-branding, Messi’s silence becomes a narrative of authenticity — reinforcing the idea that true greatness “requires no words.”

Analysts suggest this contrast amplified Messi’s symbolic role as the “anti-celebrity”: a superstar who embodies humility and excellence without ego. His global coverage illustrates how cross-cultural expectations shape different forms of stardom — Latin emotional expressiveness versus European restraint — and how Messi uniquely bridges them.

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Oral history: How Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, as told by Messi, Mac Allister & Co.

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One year on from Argentina’s epic World Cup win, ESPN spoke to 10 members of the squad about their journey through that tournament. From Lionel Messi to Julian Alvarez, this is how they saw it.