On Lionel Messi

    

    Lionel Messi. The Greatest there is. The Greatest there was. The Greatest there will ever be.

    Many of you know that Lionel Messi, now a former player of FC Barcelona, has left the club that he has been loyal to since the beginning of his youth career in football. Messi signed his first contract with Barcelona at the age of twelve and has known no other football club since. The club took a huge risk on Messi as he suffered from a hormonal deficiency that significantly stifled his growth. Knowing this the club offered to pay for Messi's medical treatment while bringing him over from Rosario, Argentina to Barcelona, Catalonia. I write briefly on this history because it explains the true love that Messi has for Barca and the love that is reciprocated back from the club.

    With this context in mind, the news of Messi's departure from the club that both he and I love unconditionally has left not just Barca fans, not just football fans, but the whole sporting world in devastation. The cause of Messi's departure is not due to a falling out between the club and himself, rather it is due to the tremendous financial disaster that former FC Barcelona presidents Sandro Rossell and Josep Bartomeu have left current president Joan Laporta to deal with. Additionally, the stringent financial rules imposed by La Liga make it legally impossible for Messi to sign a contract with the Blaugrana. There are various other problems that I will not go into detail about, but in short, the club is suffering from economic calamity. 

    Those who know me well understand that Leo Messi is much more than a football player to me. Very few people have caused me the same amount of joy and sheer elation that Leo has. My love for him and for FC Barcelona began with my good friend Arturo in elementary school. I saw pictures of two players on each respective side of his binder. One side showed Cristiano Ronaldo with his Manchester United kit and the other displayed Messi in the famous blue and red that people so easily recognized as representing FC Barcelona. For me, it was simply love at first sight. I did not care for Ronaldo and his flashy Nike Mercurial Vapors, but I was completely encapsulated by a short, long-haired, Argentinian with a big nose, and big smile to accompany it. From then on I became a Culés and a Messi fan, trying my best to watch every minute of Barca football. Though I did not have the correct channels on my TV and my 0.01 Mb dial-up internet prevented me from watching matches online, I was still able to experience and become infatuated with the absolute beauty that was put on display Pep Guardiola's sextuplet winning squad, considered to be the greatest club team to ever grace the sport of football. God blessed me with the ability to observe the intricate connection between Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta who are also considered one of the greatest trios to set foot on the pitch. My fondness for Barca and for Messi, in particular, became fully realized.

    Though surrounded by a plethora of maestros and legends of the game, Messi's actions with the ball made it manifest that he was not simply a good footballer, but could already be considered one of the greatest the sport has ever seen. His goal against Getafe seemingly emulated Maradona's greatest goal of his career confirmed that we were witnessing greatness on another level. Leo's precision in his movements was and still is sharper than a  two-edged sword, yet his fluidity and effortlessness on the ball created a perfect paradox that is today explained away by remarks of Messi's extraterrestrial origins. For most players, the ball dictates their play, for Messi the ball is his servant. He can slip past defenders as if they were not there. He can ping a perfect pass across the pitch. He can strike the ball with a blistering pace. He can effortlessly chip the keeper as if he did not exist. He can play a perfect pass in between 7 defenders to set up an unmissable goal. He is simply the greatest and most complete footballer of all time. Pep Guardiola famously explained Messi saying, "Do not write about him, do not try to describe him just watch him".

    When I found out the news of our club's inability to re-sign him I instantly felt sick to my stomach and could not eat. I began to tear up. The love story that was shared between Messi and Barca came to a cataclysmic end. After weeks of hearing about his resigning being eminent, even the famous journalist Fabrizio Romano whom the whole football world trusts confirming his resigning, we were blindsided by the bombshell that I am writing about right now. To those ignorant of who Lionel Messi is, to those who do not care for sport, what I have written may seem like a complete overreaction. At the end of the day, Leo did not pass away, he did not retire, I can still enjoy his magisterial play. Yet to not see him in a Barca shirt is detrimental to us Barca supporters and Messi fans. Leo flew back to Barcelona two days ago expecting to sign his contract and begin training with his friends once again. The financial chaos inherited from the Rossel Barto era of the club, compounded with the economic implications of the global pandemic and strict financial rules structured within La Liga declared it impossible for Leo to return to the club that he loves. The mental health of millions of fans has deteriorated. Football is not just a sport or game but a way of life for us. Messi himself does not just embody football, but he is bigger than football. Instantaneously from the official announcement NBA teams, NASCAR, F1 Racing teams, and many more were offering Messi to join their organizations. Cricket commentators discussed the impact of his departure rather than the actual match they were observing. As I said, Messi is bigger than football itself.

    This is not an eloquent piece of writing and this is not meant to do anything except give me an opportunity to explain the deep love I have for my club Barca and for my idol Lionel Messi. Some of you may be mad that I would take the time to write about this rather than a more serious topic such as the persecution of the Churches in the Middle East, or Palestine, or the Uyghur Muslims in concentration camps in China and you have a point. So I am sorry for not talking about that, but I hope you all understand the significance Messi has had in my life. I can write a book on this situation alone so I will stop here. 

    I will support Messi wherever he goes, though I would prefer if he does not go to PSG. Nevertheless, it will always be Visca el Barca! What a privilege it is to experience the greatest footballer of all time. I am thankful to God always for this blessing.