Whether it's fair or not, professional athletes are largely defined by their performances in the biggest moments. And for a soccer player, there's no grander stage than the World Cup. If you can deliver with national pride on the line, you'll be a hero forever.
And while Lionel Messi was already a global superstar and one of soccer's all-time greats, that's just what he did in December 2022.
That World Cup victory will live on in the history books, but it doesn't have to fade away just yet. In fact, a new docuseries will provide a closer look at the tournament and Messi's Hollywood-style triumph.
Messi's World Cup Gets the 'Last Dance' Treatment
During an event like the World Cup, it can be hard to focus on a single storyline. With (most of) the game's elite players concentrated in one place and all sorts of drama across the groups, the tournament can provide soccer overload. In December 2022, however, Messi largely owned the spotlight.
The forward, widely considered one of the game's greats, arrived in Qatar with an opportunity to change history. For all of his success, he was yet to lead his soccer-obsessed home country to the World Cup title. And given that the tournament only arrives every four years, 2022 could have been his final meaningful kick at the can.
Things didn't start out well with an opening loss to Saudi Arabia, but after that, the worm turned. Argentina didn't lose from then on and ultimately claimed the World Cup title in a dramatic showdown with France. And Messi, further underlining his legacy, scored seven goals, notched three assists and earned the Golden Ball as the tournament's top player.
From afar, you'd be excused if you thought things were following a Hollywood script. That, of course, wasn't the case, and a new AppleTV+ docuseries will show all of the blood, sweat and tears that went into Messi's crowning international glory, following the star across five World Cups through behind-the-scenes footage and personal reflections from the man himself.
"'Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend'" highlights the thrilling story of the planet's top living athlete as well as that of his loyal supporters across Argentina and those who made the pilgrimage across the globe. The series also features the most personal interviews to date with Messi, alongside conversations with teammates, coaches, competitors, devout fans and commentators testifying to the incredible influence and impact he has on a nation and world stage, along with the grace, fortitude and willpower he has exhibited throughout his career," a release said.
"The docuseries charts the dramatic path from his first match with the Argentina national football team to carrying the weight of a country on his shoulders through several elusive World Cup wins, leading to his early retirement in 2016 and, ultimately, the comeback to become a FIFA World Cup champion and be crowned the 2022 tournament's best player. In his own words, Messi tells the definitive story of his incredible career with the Argentina national football team, providing an intimate and unprecedented look at his quest for a legacy-defining World Cup victory."
A teaser trailer released on December 15 also provided a glimpse of what the series holds. Amid framing shots of Argentina, clips of Albiceleste matches and a quote about everyone knowing Messi would be great but waiting to see how great he'd be, we hear from the man himself.
"It would be the dream ending," he was subtitled as saying. "To win the World Cup."
That, of course, is the crux of the story.
At the risk of breaking out a big-time cliché, sports are the ultimate drama. It's raw and unscripted; you never know if you'll face the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat. Even someone like Messi, who has unimaginable individual talent, can't always come out on the right side of the result. A bad bounce or a simply stroke of luck can change the course of history. And there were plenty of disappointments before reaching the top of the mountain.
But, during the 2022 World Cup, he and his teammates delivered when the chips were down. And in the process, they created an iconic soccer moment that will never be forgotten.
If you want to go behind the scenes on that journey and see all that went into earning a place in soccer's pantheon, you can tune in starting on February 21, 2024.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Joe Kozlowski is a native New Yorker who joined Newsweek in 2023 as the Sports Team Lead.
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