Lionel Messi: the footballer who played every game and today manages his energy

That year he arrived in Peru. Between the festive and the philanthropic. With show promises from the hand of Neymar, Dani Alves, Materazzi, Mascherano and many others, Messi I wanted to continue playing ball. After a season in which he had scored sixty goals in sixty games, had been substituted six times and gone to the bench on two others, the Argentine was still determined to do what he liked most and, in addition, help others. Leo was about to turn twenty-six and it showed.

Today, a decade, three more Ballon d’Ors, a Copa América and a World Cup later, living in Miami, playing for fun (a big salary) and with the unanimous admiration of the world of football and even Hollywood actors, ’10 ‘ is still valid.

Small actions are more than pertinent for a 36-year-old man, a father who watches his children grow up and sees his co-workers retire. Measures that demonstrate, citing Eduardo Sacherithat “The blame for everything is time, which insists on passing”.

In an era of sophistication of physical, nutritional and even scientific preparation, Messi has stood out above many, taking into account Cristiano Ronaldo (two years older than him) not only to his archrival, but to the motivation that has allowed him to push himself to the limit of his capabilities as a competitive animal.

On Thursday, on the third qualifying date for the 2026 World Cup, Messi entered 52 minutes into the match with the applause of the entire River Monumental Stadium on his shoulders. The 80,000 souls who had gathered on the field and who paid a ticket to see the world champions, but above all him, left happy after a 1-0 that could have been extended to the difference of two if the shot made by Messi did not hit the post.

played less than one time, but got the Paraguayans so mad that one of them, Antonio Sanabria, spat on him after an altercation that he later, as an official of dubious morality, denied on national television.

Although against the albirroja, Messi He was a substitute, against Bolivia on the previous date, in La Paz, he did not even appear on the list, although he signed the form as an assistant so he was able to sit on the bench where only players and coaching staff are allowed.

Going back a little further, already in the first match against Ecuador, where Argentina won 1-0 with a goal from Messi, the star left the field – like almost never – shortly before the game ended. It was not only for applause, but to avoid fatigue. , mentioned a smiling Messi to the Argentine press and to the slight distress of those who seriously wonder what will happen after his retirement. “He is preparing us,” the fans were encouraged to say after the statements. Irrefutable conjecture.

Messi, the end of a generation

There are only two current players in South America who played in the qualifiers from the one for Germany 2006 to the current one: Lionel Messi and Paolo Guerrero. Both will be present on the court on Tuesday. The two are part of a group that carries in its memory the remnants of another time, of a decade like the 2000s that is already beginning to seem distant and in which football still looked a bit like it did in the nineties.

. Messi, Ronaldinho’s teammate; Paolo, by Oliver Kahn. Messi, Zidane’s rival; Paolo, from Makelele. Living history that perhaps we will see how it is crossed for the last time on a field.

The Argentine has always been cautious to answer when asked if he will be able to play in the 2026 World Cup (where he would be present at 39): “I don’t know,” he answers with more sincerity than dribbling. Maybe it’s time to go step by step and it’s time to get used to it little by little, although the world of football will never get used to not seeing it on a field again. This is likely the beginning of a wonderful, cinematic ending.