Lionel Mess: The tempest of eternity

He came within arm's reach of the dream, only to return empty-handed. He lost the 2014 World Cup final, as well as the Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016. But each defeat made him stronger, sharper, more resolute. In 2021, Messi quenched the thirst for an international trophy by winning the Copa América. So, could it finally be the World Cup this time?

Given his current performances, it's fair to hope that the final will be all about Lionel Messi. Before assisting Julián Álvarez's goal in the semi-final, he sprinted almost half the field with Croatian defenders in tow – and he's 35 years old. He may not have the pace of his prime, and his sharpness might have dulled a little, but what he did was enough to make age and physical limits seem irrelevant.

In the quarter-final against the Netherlands, Argentina squandered a 2-0 lead at the last minute, sending the match into extra time. Emiliano Martínez became the hero by saving penalties in the shootout. Despite a 2-0 lead until the 72nd minute in the semi-final against Croatia, Argentina couldn't relax. That's when Messi took matters into his own 'feet.'

Receiving the ball in his own half, Messi danced around Josko Gvardiol, a rising star of this World Cup and one of the tournament's best defenders. With twists and turns, he left Gvardiol bewildered, spinning him around like a top. The world watched in awe as Messi toyed with the 20-year-old, who has seen his value soar in club football.

But Messi didn't care. Over his career, he has tormented countless renowned defenders, so Gvardiol was just another name on the list. Maybe Messi thought of giving him a 'taste of Messi magic,' or perhaps he didn't think about it at all. After all, there's little time to ponder over individual opponents before a World Cup semi-final.

Croatia, for their part, didn't want to single out Messi either. Before the match, they emphasised repeatedly that 'Messi isn't Argentina by himself.' Their determination to downplay Messi echoed the same mistake made by Australia and the Netherlands. The outcome was plain to see, and Messi simply added Croatia's name to the list.

Whoever makes it to the final – whether France or Morocco – will surely avoid declaring publicly that they 'aren't afraid of Messi.' And if they do, well, the examples are there for all to see.

No matter what anyone says, Messi has confirmed that this will be his last World Cup. Whether he wins it or not, we will no longer see Messi on the World Cup stage. By the time the 2026 tournament arrives, Messi will be nearing 40. Surely, he has no plans to hobble onto the pitch with a walking stick.

Knowing this was his last chance to erase the lone blemish on his career – the final battle to write his own World Cup story next to Maradona's – Messi had to give it his all, regardless of age.

After losing the opening match to Saudi Arabia, chaos ensued. Panic everywhere! They had to win the next two matches, and the opponents were no pushovers. What would happen? 'Messi happened.' His moment of brilliance against Mexico reignited Argentina's hopes, and once they had momentum, no one could stop them. In the following match against Poland, Messi missed a penalty, but his teammates won the game for him. Messi had given so much over the years, and now his team gave something back.

That missed penalty woke him up. Messi knew that the dream of lifting the golden trophy was slipping away. So, he began making amends once they reached the knockouts. Against Australia in the round of 16, he scored with a trademark angled finish after a series of one-touch passes, putting on a masterclass for the Aussies.

In the quarter-final, Messi showed the Dutch that he prefers to let his feet do the talking. His pass to Molina for the opening goal was nothing short of a Pablo Picasso stroke of genius. Messi scored from the penalty spot and eased the pressure by converting the first penalty in the shootout – a true captain's display.

And what he did in the semi-final? It defies words, though an attempt has been made here. But nothing can truly capture it. If you haven't seen Messi's performance against Croatia, no amount of words will suffice to explain it. No, he hasn't won the World Cup yet. And we can't say for sure that he will. But even if he doesn't, how can we erase what Messi has done in Qatar?

In the 2006 World Cup, 34-year-old Zinedine Zidane came back for France. He almost single-handedly carried his team to the final, where the infamous headbutt incident occurred. Zidane couldn't paint the final in his colours, but his performance in that tournament became part of football folklore.

In Qatar, Messi's performances can't be measured by statistics alone. But for what it's worth, the numbers say Messi has scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists in 6 matches. He leads the race for the Golden Boot, alongside Kylian Mbappé, who has also scored 5 goals but has fewer assists. Messi is also the frontrunner for the Golden Ball, which would make him the first player in history to win it twice.

In 92 years of World Cup history, no player has won the Golden Ball twice. And only one has ever claimed both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot in the same tournament – Italy's Paolo Rossi in 1982.

But that's just the numbers. How can anyone quantify the lift he gave Argentina with that goal against Mexico, or his mesmerising dribble against Australia, or the heart-stopping pass against the Netherlands, or the calmness with which he toyed with Croatia?

What, then, is Lionel Messi? Messi is not the sorrow of a missed World Cup – he is a dream, a heartbeat, the alchemy that turns the impossible into reality. Messi is relentless dedication, the unyielding chase of a dream that refuses to fade. Messi is a gust of wind, a promise that stirs hope, a reason to stay awake through the night to witness the impossible unfold. Messi is a refusal to lose, a hunger to win, a thing of beauty, a vision that blurs the lines between the real and the mystical.

Words cannot capture Lionel Messi, and yet here we have tried – though the effort is undoubtedly in vain.

Perhaps he will win the final, capping his career like a fairytale. Or perhaps, once again, he will become the tragic hero. Either way, Messi – his magic, the spell he casts on fans, the way he leaves opponents spinning – will immortalise him.

He is a tempestuous ocean whose waves will never cease. He is the hero of countless 'true' fairytales. He is Lionel Andrés Messi.