Messi: The maestro painting masterpieces on football's grand stage

At 35 years old, Lionel Messi is playing in what he has confirmed to be his final World Cup. Each match brings him closer to the end of his World Cup journey, with fans dreading the moment when his time on the world stage will run out.

In club football, Messi has achieved everything there is to achieve. He has won so many individual awards that it's difficult to count. However, despite all the accolades, Messi still feels a sense of incompleteness. That elusive golden trophy—the World Cup—has yet to grace his hands.

Even if Messi wins a couple more league titles or helps Paris Saint-Germain lift the Champions League, it wouldn't add much to his already illustrious career. But winning a World Cup? That would change everything. 

The Argentine team Messi has brought to Qatar is a good team, but it's far from being a world-class squad, especially when compared to the other favorites. Yet, with his leadership and performance on the field, Messi is now only two steps away from lifting the World Cup trophy.

Argentina has been so close to ultimate success many times before, only to fall just short. In 2014, Messi was almost able to fulfill his lifelong dream, but Germany's Mario Götze dashed those hopes in the final. And now the question arises: what if 2014 repeats itself? How would Argentina's supporters recover from another heart-wrenching loss? And how would Messi find the strength to return to the pitch?

Every match raises the fear that this could be the last time we see Messi in a World Cup. If Argentina wins, Messi might continue to play for another two or three years. But what if they lose, after coming so close once again? The mere thought of it sends chills down the spine.

Lionel Messi is a player who coaches have learned from more than they have taught him. Young players should take note of Messi's ability to care for himself, both physically and mentally. He has always moved to his own rhythm, shaping his career on his terms and learning from his mistakes to become even more mature.

Eight years ago, in the 2014 World Cup semifinal against the Netherlands, Argentina won the penalty shootout, but Messi's performance was relatively quiet. Dutch coach Louis van Gaal used man-marking to neutralize Messi's magic. 

In the 2022 World Cup, van Gaal was once again the Dutch coach, but this time, he couldn't stop Messi. The reason is simple: Messi had learned from his past mistakes. He moved like a ghost around the Dutch defense. While you can man-mark a player, how do you mark a ghost?

Messi's trademark lightning-quick football is no longer as prevalent. Some might think this is due to his age. But no, Messi has learned how to control a match at a slower pace, while still maintaining influence over it. He might not contribute much defensively due to his slower speed, but his presence forces the opposition to constantly rethink their approach.

In the match against the Netherlands, for the first 35 minutes, Messi didn't have much of an impact. But then, in a moment of brilliance, he delivered a pass that tore through the Dutch defense—something only Messi could do.

During the penalty shootout, Messi calmly scored his penalty, even after Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert tried to unsettle him with words. Messi showed no reaction to Noppert's taunts and casually placed the ball into the net. It was a stark contrast to his earlier penalty miss against Poland, where despite a powerful shot, he failed to score. But Messi learns from his mistakes almost instantly.

In the 1986 World Cup, Diego Maradona led Argentina to victory with an average team. Now, 36 years later, can Messi bring back that era in Qatar? He must, because if not, the world will be deprived of the chance to revel in Messi's magic for just a bit longer.

This Messi is different. He is no longer the fiery 23-year-old filled with youthful exuberance. This Messi is 35 years old, filled with experience, and the cool-headed painter of the green pitch.