Peter Pan in Olympic soccer

Humble, shy, often. Leo Messi reserves all its expressiveness to the field. And that may be the key to AUPE to the top. Is new genius of world football. The crack of a team, FC Barcelona, which Wednesday, before the Manchester United, a round can historic season.

Leo Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina, for almost 22 years, was very little small, but marked 100 goals per season, today is the determinant of Barça player and his selection, brand goals go down in history, played with the ball glued to his feet ...

No, thats all we know (who did not know you could ask, as the radio when Diego Maradona scored the best goal of history against England in the World 1986: "What Earth came. ") Lets start again.

Messi I interviewed twice, the last one for the country a month, and if I give one third doing so, respond politely that no, no, thanks. After some exchange a match, perhaps, but makes little sense for a journalist sit and talk to him and to demand self beads. Or so little sense, say, as having asked us to Luciano Pavarotti showing what it was capable of wearing shorts in the Camp Nou. Friends may well be what happened Pavarotti with a ball, the Similarly, with its intimate, Messi may be released in conversation (but not both, because the word is that shy repeated more often those who know him when they talk about him). Pavarotti but judging based on their performance in a field soccer, or depending on how Messi spoke in public, is so absurd as unfair. As the conclusion is not uncommon that

Messi is not an intelligent person.
Messi is much more than an intelligent person. Is a genius reserves all its expressiveness to the football field. And to be genius required in the area where (opera, violin, ballet, swimming, tennis, books), a unique brain capacity. With the difference which has more merit to be the best footballer on the planet that be the best in anything else. For the simple reason that there more competition. There will be tens of thousands of people who want to be great opera singers, or play the violin or being a masterly dancers or former dancers, there will be hundreds of thousands who aspire to tennis and Rafa Nadal or swim as Michael Phelps or write as García Márquez. But hundreds of millions of dreamers, children, and even adults, who aspire to be the greatest, there is only a discipline football.

The life of a footballer is tragically short. But how many people it will change everything for being not only the many considered the most talented and effective player on earth, but the Half a world pay (and pay) to see play. Because the pleasure of witness the wonders that Messi can do with a ball these little bit-electric gives the tip of the foot, such movements such as squirrel, who slams on the brakes, and out shot, and becomes a slow-is unique, only his, who, for much of humanity, is priceless.

They say fans walk around the world. And I say professional sport. I have just been a couple of weeks South Africa, site of the World 2010, speaking with people in football, and every time I asked them their opinion Messi did not matter that they were sweepers or political players, their eyes were like dishes. When I asked a professional team striker Amazulu what he thought of Messi, was inflated cheeks and a loose long "Uuuuffff." The teammates Messi in Barcelona, Barcelona best of all time, as Juande Ramos, head coach Real Madrid, respond similarly. Samuel Etoo says see Messi in the field is like watching "cartoons". Thierry Henry confesses that Messi in the area is in danger of becoming a mere spectator: "What he does is incredible and I must be careful not to stare their movements. "Gabriel Milito, who also Messi plays in the selection argentina, said a couple of years ago in an interview with El Pais: "In every game you wonder: How was done? You get the party thinking: What would Messi?. I met him in Argentina. In the first training I learned that the selection was different to everyone. He played with great players, but none as Leo. "

As for views outside their professional environments, highlights one of Fabio Capello, English coach and former coach of Real Madrid. In April compared with Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, with that challenge in a duel in the final of the Champions League Wednesday, Capello said in April that while the Portuguese Manchester United played to a "high level", the "great" was Messi. Other Madrid no cut. Arjen Robben, the Dutch tip with some fans who came to compare him Bernabéu has Messi said: "For me its from another planet. Its the best, different from the rest. "Alfredo di Stefano, another Argentinian genius, declared at the end last year that Messi was "the number one because it plays and play; creates and ends. "Hopefully," he added, "I had the New York". The same think, do not hesitate, Florentino Perez, who for once seemed to be condemned to continue dreaming.

One of the things that were clear in the interview he did for this newspaper last month that he had had any contact with Perez and that no thought ever betraying as it did at Barcelona Luis Figo in his day. "I would go from here, Barcelona or Madrid or to anywhere else, "he said.

In the field, Messi is a waste of talent, energy and clarity. But face to face with a journalist, all his answers are short and imprecise. No runs ever. It is very famous and admired by many more people than he can imagine, but emits a strange innocence, as if I can not understand why anyone would want interview. Always humble and respectful, answer the minimum need not to be rude. Little more. How about that Di Stefano said of you, that is great because it creates and ends? "Yes, everything is nice, right?" Replied without smiling. "Especially when comes from such illustrious people. "Have you had companions in Barcelona have helped to improve as a player? "No, the truth is not. My game is always the same. "Is there a player you admire outside of Barcelona or the selection of argentina? "No. What I was really ... no. "Is there any other sport that may interest you?" I like to watch tennis, basketball ... but I am neither so ...". And when not playing football, what do you like? "Y. .. Being with the family."

Messi took the view that if the questions were trivial (very possible) or repetitive (also possible), not away. Neither haughty nor disdainful, as may be other famous football, which drew attention was its simplicity, lack of pretension of any kind. Do not look visible tattoos, no earrings, no fashionable clothes (wearing jeans and white T-shirt), or anything that would make it on the street looking at two times. Could not be more different to David Beckham, or even his only rival for the title of best in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays football as if the stage lights shine only for him. After dialing a golazo from nearly 40 meters last month Oporto in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, Ronaldo said: "This is the best goal of my life. It was a fantastic shot and I love to see it again on DVD. "

Messi does not see his goals after a game. That was the most telling that out of our interview.

Do you see much football on television? "I asked. "No. Do not watch football," replied. Not even their own goals? "No. No. Nor. Not party equipment they will face as the British in the Champions? "I like, obviously, train, play ... but look at the Indeed not. Im not looking. "

Heres a clue to decipher the particular genius of Leo Messi. No Look, it works. When not involved in the game, when he observes, is silent in the shade. When you have a ball at his feet, sings, shines like the sun. No more to read the biography written by Caioli Italian journalist Luca Messi: The boy who could not grow or see the documentary that made Robinson Report on Canal Plus, on his childhood in Rosario, industrial city 300 kilometers from Buenos Aires, and his arrival at Barcelona, which landed the club with 13 years, to note that, family aside, and has always lived Messi lived only to play football.

The family, friends, teachers, coaches I had When I was little, all offer variations on the same topic: "When playing football, either in a field or in the street, transformed "," was impressive because he spoke and said: Look at Leo, always with a ball in hand "was a baby quiet, was shy, as is now ... with the ball transformed, was another person, it was amazing to see the change that produced, "" brightness, shone when playing in the breaks. "

And today still plays like a child, as if they were not aware of the millions who remain on television every step in the da field. As if the long haul, the sacrifices made and the courage he has shown where to get it to the top of a huge mountain full of climbers who had left by the way, had not left its mark.

Unlike her grandmother, who left her. Messi spent most part of his first four years of life to a ball being kicked until one day the grandmother, as recalled in our interview (always remember her grandmother, her very football, Maradona fan) introduced him to the sport of his life by insisting that it stop Children playing on a team whose players had Rosario two years more than him. He was always very small for his age, something that was even more evident in that first played in the league, but instantly converted into the crack of his team, called Grandoli. The kicks were the only way to stop (but not evil, they were kids, "he said in an interview with an excess of generosity), but it never wrinkles. Like today in Barcelona, the more you beat, else try again.

Grandoli was of great professional team to Rosario, Newells Old Boys, and was there for five years marked an average of 100 goals per season. Yet it remained very small. A doctor diagnosed a problem that prevented him from hormonal insufficiency grow due to the naturalness. Prescribed in a daily injection leg, but the treatment was very expensive. Neither welfare nor your club could address the costs indefinitely, which persuaded the father, Jorge, to fly with him to Barcelona in September 2000 to see If the Catalan club recruited him and paid him the shots.

He was 13 years when tested on the boat. Carles Rexach, the Former player and coach the first team, was responsible for deciding their destination. It took seven minutes to do so, while giving back to an artificial turf field in which I was playing the little Leo. It was on Tuesday October 3, 2000, at five in the afternoon, in a game in which, for the umpteenth time, Messi facing players bigger than him. "Who is that?" Asked Rexach, to reach the end of your trip. "Messi," he said. "Collons, lhem of fitxa ara mateix, "Rexach said as he recalled. Some person told him that the environment was perhaps too small, as of football, what Rexach (who won the lottery that day for club that pays the salary) replied: "Well, get me at all because football players want on my team. "

Jorge Messi worked as section chief in a steel Rosario, but then moved to Barcelona to tie their future and the rest of the family were three brothers, the future of your child smaller, quieter, more bright. His mother, Celia, was Rosario. Leo had to go to a new school in a strange city where many people spoke a language unknown to him. After a few months, parents gave him the option of returning home, where they could reunite the family divided, but he, with his 13 years, no doubt: it would be and win in Barcelona. Perhaps part that strength and confidence he showed was due precisely to his family, that everyone has dealt with it, are journalists or people of Barca, defined as healthy, loving and united with feet firmly on the ground.

One of the people most close treatment Messi has had with both in football as in human terms, is Juanjo Brau, physiotherapist and recovered by the employee Barcelona. Brau, which is known since arrived in Spain, is the bridge between Barca and Messi family. A Messi and the specific request of his family, came to where the player go when he had to recover from an injury during one month Last season in Rosario, and even now, when you travel to Argentina or to Bolivia with his selection. Along a one-hour interview reflects on the Messi Messi as you would if you had the gift, or interest. Brau has completely internalized the character and it has so much affection as if it were a favorite cousin. Like all those who know him, Brau notes that Messi is an introvert, but is wanting.

"Only so small, when she arrived, she picked up baby. Is given to the people, always with a shy smile on the mouth. And at the same time is very close to people, unlike a movie star. What follows even today. It is the icon of world football now, so I see it. Leo Messi is the image of football, its essence. Makes things unattainable for other players, but remains humble family. No fame nothing has changed as a person. Its center is his family, which is always with him, between Rosario and Barcelona. It is so sweet as always with the same friends from before. He does not forget the people who was with him, and not enjoy privileges. Prefer to walk people in the street surrounded by security. And elusive. Always for the photo, the autograph. "

Brau said that he has been very well received not only by the family Messi, where it seems to be almost one, but even for the surroundings the selection of Argentina, Maradonas own, the current selector. As if they knew that their presence gives serenity. "Le I look at the eyes in the morning and I know how it is. You do not have to talk, " Brau said, revealing what may be the key to gaining confidence Messi when he says: "I know you respect their space and silence."

Within the space and silence has already made history. Impressed peers in the lower teams, including the midfielder Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal today, and as a repeat witness after another, winning matches single. "It was by far the better, "Brau said." It was the same with the ball that far, although the ball it was great. There was a great disproportion. But thought and executed with a speed that, although his opponent knew what you would do, he could not stop. "

So always placed in the holder when it came to play a game decisive, but I had to play two matches in two days. "Even 15 years had a lot of weight on it. I knew it. I knew he was a leader, and matured well, because, being Barça had to win. Was very pressure young. Hence their competitive nature comes out. "

And desparpajo required to debut in the first team against Oporto to 16 years. Then he won the World Cup with Argentina sub 20, was elected the best player in the tournament. And with 17 years devoted himself, or, as he told me in an unusual flash of pride, "I knew," in a pre-season friendly in 2005 at the Camp Nou against Juventus, which then coach, Fabio Capello responded to his stellar action by asking, "Who is this diavolo."

The diavolo, as seen Brau, is an inborn talent. "You can not understand. The ball is the continuity of their body. It was Carlos Bilardo [Argentina at the time of Maradona] that said if you An X-ray would do a round object, a ball, stuck at the bottom. "

The truth is that without the ball Messi is less, as if it cut off access to a vital organ. "If you want to do a Leo happy, "says Brau," give him a ball. When I work rehabilitation, bring a ball, because without the ball is not complete. The ball is your best friend in football. He is happy when he plays. If not plays a night, all day is nervous. Not a good day for him, either by injury or cards, or by the technician. To be is happy to do this. Her life is reduced to this. Within the greatness is very simple. "

Messi and the ball are like fish and water. The degree of interdependence between one and the other was shown in an anecdote told by another persons environment Barça. During a tour of Asia in 2005, Messi, who has just returned to first team, had to move a game on the bench. Opposite was a small wall, the level of their knees. He spent the entire match shoot a ball murito against a hypnotic, a touch after another without stopping. "I was beside himself as" a person who remembers what he witnessed, "as if the ball is a kind of drugs. "

Or a work of love. When I asked in an interview that he did in 2007 if, as the Brazilians say, stroking the ball as if outside a woman blushed. But you refused. That year, after winning the Spanish League and Champions in 2006 (though not played the last matches due to injury), the world of football is definitely in love he. Scored three goals to one year in the space of three months diavolo made the jump to the heights of Olympus.

The first memorable by the circumstances of the party as the execution was in March 2007 in the super league Spanish, Barcelona against Real Madrid. This was the last minute match. Barca, who played with ten men after an expulsion lost 2 to 3. Messi received the ball on the edge of the semicircle area. There was no possibility of anything. Any defense (and the whole attack) Madrid was back, his only goal, the goal of avoiding tie. Messi turned to the left, made a lightning Dodge that left two lying Madrid players, and entered the area. I still had to Sergio Ramos, the best defense of Madrid, and Iker Casillas, the best goalkeeper of the world, ahead. Beat Ramos and placed the ball in the corner of the goal, stuck to the pole, without leaving Casillas possibility of achieving it. Everything happened in a blink: the goal of tie, the third goal from Messi in a 3-3 night that defined the Argentina for the hundreds of millions who followed the party television as one of the greats.

The second piece of art, the following month, was his famous goal against Getafe in the Spanish Cup, which followed almost step by step, to many consider the greatest goal of all time, the extra Maradona against England in the World Mexico 1986. He received the ball in the left wing on the centerline bargaining and the entire defense rival. The difference with the goal of Maradona was also the doorman is haggling. Another goal that gave the around the globe. Twenty times.

The third, less impact, but equally extraordinary was the marked in June 2007 against Mexico for the selection argentina Americas Cup. Only needed two touches. The first, a control Race in the peak area of the Mexican left, the second still the race, a Vaseline sublime. The whole stadium was expected or Satin shot or pass to the center of the area, had a front-ready to shoot. Messi, however, gave a little bit with the tip of the he raised his left boot to ball in a perfect arc, unstoppable, geometrically flawless, grazing the crossbar. He said the English commentator for Sky Television: "That is perfection!" (That is perfection!). It was. The connection between the brain and Messi foot at the instant in which the legs are most speed was a wonderful hymn to the complexity of biology human.

Spend the time and mark successively more goals and provide assistance goal. This season has touched 40 goals, eight of them in the Champions League, in which competition has been the main scorer. Within Spain, and Argentina, no one doubts that the better world. Outside, there are those who believe they have a rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. But increasingly the question being asked is whether the Messias eventually beating players like Zidane, Ronaldo (the Brazilian) or Ronaldinho (when it was a true professional) and placed on the podium of the eternal, with Pele and Maradona.

Maradona himself has shown some ambiguity in this regard, accusing him last year as a pacifier. Lately it has been corrected, as recognizing that their success will depend on Messi as a selector player. He said recently: "Let me exceed Messi." More telling was what he said in the locker room as someone who was there, after finish a match against France in Paris in February, which Messi golazo marked the victory. Maradona turned to a friend he said, between resignation and admired: "Lets see if it is true that better than me ...".

Jorge Valdano, who won the World Cup with Maradona, whose per footballing talent has always expressed reverence, said to be not better than his idol, but thinks it can reach the same height. "In Argentina, when you were a fast player, said they had a rocket in the ass, Messi has it in mind too, "he says." Have speed mental, physical and technical wreckers in the three arguments field. "defenses Three is what the coaches tend to rivals to stop. One only has nothing to do. "I race on the the opponents foot, "said Valdano," but always has his foot faster, and soul as well. And looking at the horizon does not watching the ball and the opponent. While horse knows exactly where is the goal, opponents, fellow. "

When asked whether one could speak of Messi in the same terms that Maradona or Pele, Valdano hesitated a second, deep breath and said: "For me, yes. This is a project of this magnitude. Messi is more mature Maradona to 21 years to the age when Maradona played in the World and Spain had failed. Maradona then built a story the next ten years. And do not forget that Maradona never played on a computer as large as that boat. In that sense it is more like Pele, who played at the Brazil team of 1970. "

Valdano is not the only football figure to compare with Messi Maradona. So does Capello, whose first impression of the young Argentina has evolved in crescendo over the past four years to the point that in March this year stated: "Each era has its superstar like Pele or Maradona, Messi and may superstar of the next decade. "

The teammates Messi not cut. Cameroon Samuel Etoo says that "does things that nobody has ever done is ... new Maradona. It is a player who makes us dream. "Thierry Henry, Barca striker and the French, in a loose wheel Recent news that the only person who had seen them do things Messi like Maradona era. Then the French paused, feeling that as entering territory profane. Pondered his words and breathing deep as Valdano, continued: "Look, no ... I do not want to put pressure on Leo, Well, needless to say, looks a lot like Maradona. "

Henry hesitated, afraid to press, perhaps because they sensed that the success of Messi to retain that innocence depends on your way of being that species autism that protects against known and makes a play with ease and a looseness that is not seen on the faces of the taut other players. Many have said: if you still play as Messi were in the schoolyard. Or perhaps playing a player of the fifties, before the television transmission every detail of every game to every corner of the world. Said Gianluca Zambrotta, his former colleague in London: "For him there is no difference between the Nou Camp and the area of land of his people. "And repeated his former coach Frank Rijkaard: "No matter who plays 10 or in front of 100,000 spectators, Leo is always the same. "

As demonstrated when they met, not just get who is not just digesting monumental feat to become the best of hundreds of millions who play football around the world. Michael Robinson, sports commentator for Channel? + And former Manchester United player and Liverpool, said in response to the million dollar question (if you reach Maradona to be as large as) that Messi can be as large as it want. "But it all depends on to maintain that freshness, that who is unconscious, who has come to be. What it this is great simplicity and humility he has. Just want to play football. It is not selfish, but rather the opposite. Sometimes you re not wanting to release the ball, just try it. No Leo Messi is the show. He plays a football honest, authentic. Play for the team. "

Robinson compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, saying that player suffers "A conflict of interests." "Cristiano is brilliant, certainly, but the difference is that it is a star and always act as if knew. Play for the team, but also for himself. Messi not This is cunning. No juguetea with his fame and power. Do not flirt with Other clubs, like Christian. Messi said that falls in Barca because that is happy, period. "

This will not help you much, perhaps, when it comes to renegotiate its contract. But neither of these considerations are given priority Messi. Juanjo Brau explains, "is a simple boy, family, the incomodaría you have a Ferrari. Use an Audi that gives the club and in Argentina, a Jeep. Not flashy, not conceit. "

Cristiano Ronaldo has a Ferrari (or had, until recently, a red which crashed) and is ostentatious. When a goal is scored to be in the field, posing for photos, like a rock star. Demagogue is: the kiss shield, which is not the head to pass through Messi, and loves exhibit their muscled torso naked after a game.

Thats another big difference with the rival that Messi will this week, to which all are going to compare, in the final of the Champions from Barcelona and Manchester United: Cristiano Ronaldo is by nature a top athlete, strong and handsome. Messi is not strength to hit the ball as Cristiano why places. Is not high, despite years of hormone injections, and when walking by the street does crestfallen, as if to pass unnoticed. Cristiano leaves the field when you win, especially when you know who has played Well, with your head up, just like a conquering emperor new lands.

But Messi is really brave. Because he had to fight much more to get where he had to combat their lack of anatomy in order to squeeze all its talents, but also because, Unlike Christian, when things are not going well is not in hiding the field. "Not only because the more you are kicked, the more motivated, "says Robinson. Talk about a much more admirable courage, and more subtle. "We always called for the ball. Although it is surrounded by three defenses, although the risk of failure is great, not afraid. No afraid of making fools of ourselves. I know how that is. I was a footballer. I see Messi and see who plays without fear and without ego. Play for the team and is always there. That compared to 90,000 people, with hundreds of million scrutinizing everything you do, juzgándote, putting to the test permanently siguiéndote televised around the world, Thats guts! Thats hell. "

But as in any courage, for example in the war depends on a some degree of unconsciousness, not having deepened the danger you run. So Robinson said that if you are going to become so great as Pele or Maradona, you have to stay within their bubble, sheltered by his family, frozen in childhood, as Peter Pan without assimilating all the cynicism of the adult world around him, his obsession with fame and money. As Robinson says: "I hope that Nobody wakes up and explain it. "And, that is, to continue giving bad interviews. Continue to shy without a ball in sight and eloquent as anyone with him to his feet within the area, place, Valdano hits as, "where you feel most happy, where is the king of World."