Last year Cristiano Ronaldo got his own movie, so it’s only right that Lionel Messi has got one now as well. Messi comes to DVD next week, and it takes an unusual approach to telling the Argentinian superstar’s story. Messi himself isn’t interviewed for the film — instead, it stars a host of big name players (including Javier Mascherano, Andres Iniesta, Gerad and Gerad Pique), legends (Diego Maradona and the late Johan Cruyff), coaches and football writers, alongside his family and friends, in extended roundtable interviews, discussing his life, and what makes him so great.
It is a bit weird that the man himself isn’t actually involved, but it’s still interesting. All the discussions take place around restaurant tables, so the experience is kind like finding yourself having a meal with Pique and Iniesta, and spending the whole time bugging them for stories about the Nou Camp dressing room (which is totally what you’d do if you got the chance). Interspersed with those are strange reenactment scenes of Messi’s childhood, with actors playing him and his family — they are pretty cheesy to be honest, but at least they break up all the talking heads. Overall, it’s a interesting film, and here are five things we learnt from it.
He played a snail in a school play
Even at only six years old, he was skilling up kids older than him
He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, which ultimately led him to him to Barcelona
Messi and Ronaldinho quickly formed a bromance at the Nou Camp
Fabio Capello asked Frank Rijkaard if he could sign Messi on-loan in the middle of the game
In 2005 Barca played Juventus in a friendly, with Messi making a very early appearance and absolutely destroying the Juve defence. Then-Juventus manager Fabio Capello was so impressed with this kid that he’d never seen before, that right there and then, while the game was still going on, he asked Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard is he could take Messi on loan. Rijkaard politely declined.
Messi is out on DVD on 25 July.
