Read quotes, tributes and stories about Lionel Messi from players, coaches and writers, including featured essays by Hernán Casciari and source references.
10Writers, rivals, teammates and coaches on the wonder of watching Messi.
Neymar
A farewell from a rival who became a teammate and friend. Neymar celebrates their shared history and the pleasure Messi brought to football, extending the thanks beyond Argentina to the world. Read the full message in Spanish at the source.
Read / listen to the full original ↗
Antonela Roccuzzo
Antonela remembers the difficult years as well as the triumphs. At the heart of her letter are their children: they watched their father persevere, keep believing and finally lift the World Cup. Her pride centres on the person behind the achievements.
Read / listen to the full original ↗ Enzo Fernández
Enzo recalls being a young fan during Messi’s 2016 retirement. He would calculate their age difference and wonder whether he could reach the national team in time to share a pitch with his idol. The letter traces that childhood hope into their eventual partnership.
Read / listen to the full original ↗ Matías Manna
Argentina’s video analyst writes about a footballing inheritance: patience on the ball, midfielders who think creatively, and a team that finds its strength through possession. He hopes the national team continues to teach and seek that style after Messi leaves.
Read / listen to the full original ↗ Hernán Casciari
«Messi is a dog»Translated from Spanish
A childhood dog, a yellow sponge, and a footballer whose attention belongs entirely to the ball. Casciari finds a wonderfully unusual way to explain Messi’s persistence.
Read / listen to the full original ↗ Hernán Casciari
«The first time I heard the surname “Messi” was in a chat among Argentines in Barcelona.»Translated from Spanish
The story of an emigrant who never quite leaves home. Messi’s journey runs alongside a community of Argentines in Barcelona, with a suitcase as the thread connecting two lives.
Read / listen to the full original ↗Descriptive words from the filtered excerpts, with filler words omitted. Select a word to explore it.
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Date sorting uses the full publication date when recorded, otherwise the year. Undated quotes appear last.
Recent Spanish-language tributes retain the cited Spanish wording; English versions are editorial translations. Earlier English excerpts follow their references, and their Spanish versions are editorial translations. Excerpts and original Atlas summaries link to complete readings at their sources.
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Quotation references compiled with Wikiquote · CC BY-SA 4.0. Original authors and publications credited individually.