The admiration between the two great champions is the reflection of an unwritten rule; anyone who has reached the pinnacle knows just how much sweat and tears it takes to get there. After his World Cup opener on Tuesday, in which his hat-trick gave Argentina a 3-0 win over Algeria, Lionel Messi lauded ATP No. 1 Club Member Rafael Nadal, who has been a source of inspiration in the later stages of his sporting career.
”I like playing football. It’s been my passion since I was little and when I’m well I give everything,” Messi said after his match. “We’re currently watching the Rafa Nadal series and I can really identify with him, I think we’re very similar in that sense. I always want to give everything, I always want to feel good and that’s how I enjoy myself. As long as I’m well enough to, I’ll be there.”
Far from an empty gesture, the words were a recognition of an athlete who managed to prolong his career like few others. Messi became the all-time leading World Cup goal-scorer (16), drawing level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Just one week short of his 39th birthday, the Argentine also became the oldest player to score multiple goals in a match at the four-yearly event.
The reference to Nadal made perfect sense as it highlighted his ability to continuously perform despite the pressure of past success. Spaniard won 8 of his 22 major titles past the age of 30, and is now the only man to have won multiple majors in three different decades. His is the personification of dedication in sport.
Messi and Nadal have always professed mutual admiration, as seen in 2023 when the pair were nominated for ‘Sportsman of the Year’ at the Laureus Awards.
At the time, the Spaniard posted a message on his Instagram profile: “This year you deserve it, Leo Messi”. The Argentine responded in kind: ”For an athlete as great as you to write that about me… Thank you so much, Rafa Nadal, you also deserve everything because of the way you compete every time you step on a court. You’re a winner, maybe we’ll have a lot of competition though! Honestly, they all deserve the Laureus this year.”
Messi is Argentina’s captain at this year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The South American side is the defending champion after lifting the cup in Qatar in 2022.