How would you explain Lionel Messi’s greatness to future generations?

For more than two decades, Lionel Messi made the extraordinary look effortless in Argentina colours. His international journey carried him from repeated heartbreak and doubts to lifting every major honour, including the Copa América and the FIFA World Cup. Now, at 39, Messi has announced his retirement from international football, ending a glorious 21-year.

Everyone knew this day would eventually come, yet the announcement still felt impossible to process. For fans, Messi was more than a footballer. He gave them tears of joy and moments that will remain difficult to explain to those who were not there. Beyond the endless debates and rivalries, he was the quiet heartbeat of a generation. So, we asked them: How would you describe Lionel Messi to a future generation that never got to watch him play for Argentina?

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“Messi made me feel emotions I did not know football could create. Whenever he received the ball, I expected the impossible and somehow, he still surprised me.” — Fahad Kamal, 27, professional accountant

“Leo was the pinnacle of football. Think of any aspect of the sport and he was probably the best or among the greatest at it.” — S M Safwan, 19, social media manager

“Many skilful and precise players will come, but Leo’s play had magic in it.” — Ahmed Shabab Hassan, 21, business student

“Messi proved that one painful chapter does not decide the whole story. His journey taught us that failure is not permanent and time can change everything.” — Samira Nashrah Aurpa, 26, marketing associate

“I wanted him to lose many times, but I could never stop admiring him. He was the opponent you feared most and possibly the greatest player ever.” — Tashdid Arman Ramim, 25, engineering student

“Videos may preserve his goals, but they can never capture what it felt like to watch him receive the ball and believe the impossible was seconds away.” — Mahadi Hasnat Amin, 30, business owner

“Messi is the reason I fell in love with football. What truly set him apart was how his mind processed the game in real time.” — Rehnuma Alam Khan, 23, student