Messi celebrates his 32nd birthday today and is still going overwhelmingly strong, hitting 50+ goals in a single season for the sixth time last term, while also laying on 22 assists for his teammates.
As much as we wish the Barcelona and Argentina legend a happy birthday, a big part of us also feels quite sad.
Whether we like it or not, Messi is fast approaching the final years of his remarkable career. Most footballers retire somewhere around their mid-30s and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner isn’t far off that now.
It’ll be down to Messi when he hangs up his boots. He said earlier this year that he’ll stretch out his retirement for as long as he can, but even if he plays until he’s 38 that’s only six years away now.
The ludicrously gifted chap from Rosario won’t be around forever but Messi came up with the most humble response when asked about his legacy by Unisport.
“In the end, everyone will remember and think of you what they want – and they’re free to do so,” Messi said.
Messi has achieved everything in football, aside from winning a major tournament at international level.
This is now the Argentine’s burning ambition, above everything else.
He’s come agonisingly close on several occasions – including finishing as a World Cup finalist in 2014 – but has an opportunity to land his hands on the Copa America after Argentina progressed to the quarter-finals on Sunday night.
If he does win the Copa America next month then even more people will agree that Messi has done enough over the course of his career to be labelled the best player ever.
There are several other candidates for this honour – namely Pele, Diego Maradona, Alfredo Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo – but Messi, for many, trumps the lot.
