With a career spanning more than two decades, Lionel Messi’s impact on football is no longer hypothetical; it can be measured.
From the countless records he has broken to the trophy cabinet that surely overflows at home, his legacy is tangible.
But perhaps nowhere is that legacy more evident than in the players who grew up idolizing him. As Barcelona’s biggest star from his breakthrough under Pep Guardiola in 2008 until his departure in 2021, Messi shaped a generation of Spanish fans and footballers.
Now, he is set to face many of them in the 2026 World Cup final.
Lamine Yamal
