Lionel Messi - 15 July 2026

Today's World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina was the first 2026 match I watched from start to finish. Soccer has never been my sport—it usually feels like 90 minutes of elegant loitering punctuated by brief moments of chaos—but my respect for Messi’s accomplishments, both on the pitch and in life, pulled me in.

Messi is special in ways that go far beyond football. His leadership on the field transcends mere skill and enters the realm of pure, intangible je ne sais quoi. And today was no exception: he inspired Argentina’s win with two masterful setup assists.
He is also a family man—a loyal husband and devoted father.

I couldn’t help smiling at the poetic symmetry of the result: Argentina, an ambitious young nation still bootstrapping its way out of years of debilitating socialism, defeating England—a once-mighty empire now sliding gracefully into decline.

My last visit to Buenos Aires was in 2023, where I enjoyed one of the best steaks of my life at a classic parrilla overlooking the Río de la Plata. I’d been in the UK the year before, in 2022, and spent a wonderful afternoon lost in the Egyptian wing of the British Museum. To be sure, both countries have plenty left to offer.

All that being said, soccer still sits rather low on my list of favorite pastimes. Some things, it seems, not even Messi can change. I will try to watch the World Cup final though, on Sunday, Argentina versus Spain.

Aside: Speaking of nations in decline... ahh...Spain...a nation now seemingly seeking to return to its Moorish roots.