Messi in Miami

Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini, the greatest player since Edson Arantes do Nascimento may have taken a step back on the stage of football worthies!  On the other hand he has definitely made a worthy choice in the best interests of football.  Initially coached by his father he was given great encouragement by his maternal grandmother whom he still honors after every goal. Messi’s future as a professional was threatened when, aged 10, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.  As his father’s health insurance covered only two years of treatment which cost at least $1,000 per month (1997 $!) Newell’s Young Boys agreed to contribute, but later reneged on their promise. Number ten graduated from Newell’s to Barcelona at the tender age of thirteen. His parents moved from Argentina to Catalonia to support him.

Messi could have easily have sold out, been bought off and like Ronaldo he could have gone to Saudi Arabia. But thinking about his legacy and the multitude of his fans, Messi the Messiah chose to shun super-rich obscurity and to remain within the bounds of the civilized world.  Of course he makes great money!  ($1 billion in lifetime earnings) and, unlike Ronaldo, is worth every penny!

Messi has scored over 800 goals for club and country. He also has the most assists in football history (387). Guardiola says he’s the only player who runs faster with the ball at his feet than without!  He was spectacular in the last World Cup steering Argentina to victory in Kuwait. He scored seven goals in seven matches with three assists. He broke ten FIFA World Cup records in the process including most appearances, most MVPs, most goal contributions, and the first player to score in every round!

But what have you done for me lately, Lionel?  After missing three games through injury (three defeats for Inter Miami) Messi was hoping to play before a sell-out crowd of 61,000 at Chicago’s own Soldier Field.  The cheapest tickets available in the lower bowl cost $350.  However Miami manager, Gerardo Martino, had to pull Messi last minute, leaving the 61,000 Messi maniacs disappointed. So disappointed in fact that the Chicago Fire are offering $250 off a season ticket or a $50 rebate. You can be sure they got it in the ear from the Messi faithful!  Messi returned in the next game in Cincinnati but failed to avert defeat as Miami went down 1-0 and out of the playoffs. 

But surely more lies ahead for the shy man from Rosario.  Unlike Ronaldo he’s not a petulant, self-absorbed has-been. Unlike Ronaldo he has stayed within the bounds of the civilized world. He’s 36 but the years have been fairly kind. Along with 61,000 Chicagoans and thousands more who couldn’t get tickets or couldn’t afford them I want to see more of Messi. A shy, modest man with the heart of a tiger!