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Watching Lionel Messi Live For the First Time
What it felt like witnessing the genius in real-time
The clock ran 50 minutes on the screen board. Hardly a significant moment in any football match. Yet the whole stadium rose to its feet. Just a glance around and I realized what had happened. One normal 5’6 guy was jugging around his dug-out area. Except this one guy was not normal.
Three minutes later, the official displayed the substitution board. And the moment had finally arrived. I was about to watch Lionel Messi live for the first time.
But the moment didn’t arrive after 50 minutes only. It had arrived some 12 years later.
I first knew about Lionel Messi in 2005. People had started raving about this ‘New Maradona’ Argentine kid after a series of other failed ‘New Maradonas’. But this kid seemed different. This kid had caught the eye of even the real Maradona. So, I was fascinated by the prospect of witnessing some New Maradona in our lifetime.
For the next 12 years, Football meant only three things. Messi, Ronaldo, and Manchester United (the third part was true for me at least!)
Full disclaimer first, I am a massive Cristiano Ronaldo fan. But for someone who lives and breathes football, I find it impossible not to be fascinated by Lionel Messi, never mind the thought of actually…
