When Messi said he cried after the goal because of something unrelated to football, I donโt know why but it hit me harder than the hat-trick itself.
Maybe because weโve spent so many years looking at him as something more than human.
Every time Argentina needed a hero, there he was.
Every time football needed magic, there he was.
Every time people said it was over, there he was.
And yet moments like this remind you that behind all the goals, trophies and celebrations is just a man carrying battles we know nothing about.
I think thatโs why Iโve stopped caring about the debates.
The GOAT debates.
The era debates.
The league debates.
At some point you realize youโre watching the final chapters of a story that millions of people will tell for decades.
One day there wonโt be another Messi World Cup game.
One day there wonโt be another impossible assist, another left-footed finish, another moment where an entire stadium stands up because the ball found its way to him.
And when that day comes, football will continue.
But it wonโt feel quite the same.
What a privilege it has been to watch him.
What a privilege it has been to grow up in the Messi era.
One day Iโll tell my kids that I watched Lionel Messi play football.
And theyโll probably never understand just how lucky we were.