Watch: New Trailer Chronicles Messi's Journey to World Cup Immortality

While it's not completely fair, legacies are written in the biggest moments. You can produce phenomenal individual stat lines and pile up the wins, but it's all irrelevant without a trophy to show for it. That reality partially explains why Lionel Messi's march to the 2022 World Cup title mattered.

To be clear, the Argentine attacker has piled up plenty of trophies over the years. He dominated Spain during his time with Barcelona and won the Champions League on four occasions. His stint with PSG saw him add some additional domestic silverware to his collection. There were some successes with the Argentina national team, like a Copa America crown, and plenty of individual honors along the way.

The World Cup trophy, however, was a notable omission. And given the international stakes of that tournament—lifting your country to the top of the global mountain—Messi had to deliver for his homeland.

Roll all of that pressure into one, and you have some idea of what the superstar was facing as things kicked off in Qatar. But what was it really like for him to chase the ultimate prize in what could have been his final World Cup?

Well, a new trailer for Apple TV+'s "Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend" provides a closer look.

We open with the man himself saying that winning the World Cup would be a dream ending. We hear about how Argentina's soccer obsession and the attacker's own greatness piled on the pressure.

And, there's a telling quote which, in Spanish, explains that being Messi is both a gift and a curse.

The rest of the trailer continues pulling on that thread. There's an allusion to the on-pitch action—we see goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who became a hero in his own right, saying that if Argentina lost, they'd be heading home —and clips of adoring fans in rapturous celebration, which are juxtaposed against Messi saying his journey wasn't easy.

Things finally end with the Argentine legend summing up the stakes of his trip to Qatar: "This is my last shot."

Messi's fairy tale ultimately came true, scoring two goals in the final as Argentina defeated France on penalties to claim the title.

"'Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend' highlights the thrilling story of the planet's top living athlete, his loyal supporters across Argentina, and those who made the pilgrimage across the globe to witness his epic World Cup win. 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," an Apple TV+ statement explained. "The docuseries explores the grace, fortitude and willpower he has exhibited throughout his career as it 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."

Everyone is entitled to watch sports in their own way, but a part of the theoretical appeal is the real-life drama. It's one thing to follow a scripted drama, anxiously awaiting the conclusion, but it's another to watch things unfold in real-time without any knowledge of what the future holds. Messi's 2022 World Cup was a perfect example of that. With each match, the icon's legacy hung in the balance. Would he be the hero who stepped up on the biggest stage? Or would he go down in history as the legend who couldn't get it done in crunch time?

We, of course, know how things ultimately played out. But on February 21, we'll get a closer look at the blood, sweat and tears that went into Messi's crowning glory. Being a living legend isn't only about fame and fortune.

And no matter who you prefer in the GOAT debate, that journey is something we can all understand.