Lionel Messi Has Something His Rivals Never Will

By

Adam Elder,

a writer covering sports and culture

Lionel Messi, by most estimates the greatest soccer player ever, celebrated his 39th birthday a little early this week at a World Cup that already has his name all over it. He did so in typical Messi fashion: with a series of improbable, elegant goals and a new record. Messi has now been at the top of the world’s most popular sport for nearly 22 years. He’s won a World Cup, four Champions Leagues, 13 league titles, eight Ballon d’Ors — more than anyone ever — and now the most World Cup goals of all time (18), among dozens of other honors. So far at this World Cup, he’s scored a ridiculous five goals in two games. That’s already a lot of Messi, no matter how you look at it.

And yet we — you, me, most living soccer fans, or just casual observers — want more from him. We expect more from him. Hype aside (of which there is plenty), there is never enough Messi for us. Eventually we tire of indulging in the best of anything, whether it’s Tom Brady or prestige television; overexposure accumulates and haters proliferate. Yet apart from a small legion of unserious internet trolls, Messi is largely haterproof, even to fans of teams he has obliterated over the years. What is it about him? What makes this five-foot-seven, unassuming guy with limitless talent so unique? It’s actually hard to say.