KATHMANDU, JANUARY 22

Quite often, I upload numerous photos of Lionel Messi on Facebook with the selfsame caption on each post that reads, "He's my inspiration!" In one instance, one of my friends commented, "How?" I took his oneword question literally without giving it a single thought, assuming that he was asking me to justify the statement (caption).

I was engrossed in the din of conversation to myself, "Since I never play football, there might have been a sense of conjecture in his mind as to how can a guy who has never touched a football draw inspiration from a famous footballer."

He asked me the same question again on yet another Facebook post. However, I would barely reply to such comments.

I always believed I would never be able to make him realise what an indelible mark this amazing guy from Argentina's Rosario has left in my mind, albeit I never play football.

Needless to say, I was so captivated with what Lionel Messi did on the football pitch during the glittering 2014 World Cup competition in Brazil. I was obsessed with the way Messi showcased his footballing skills throughout the tournament. I would say it was Messi's misfortune that Argentina fell short in the final as 'mighty' Germans emerged victorious, shattering the football prodigy's quest to add the most prestigious trophy with the national team in his scintillating footballing career.

June 27, 2016. This day is regarded as the 'Black Day of Football' when a cine Argentine soccer player took a shocking decision to retire from international career following back-toback Copa America defeats with Chile on penalty shootouts on both occasions.

The front page of The Himalayan Times of Tuesday's edition dating back to June 28, 2016, picturing a 'dejected' Messi clad in a famous Argentina jersey with a despondent face looking skywards with both eyes closed, is still pasted on the wall of my bedroom back in my hometown, Tansen.

The happy news for Messi fans around the globe was bound to come as their idol would come out of retirement and continue to flamboyantly exhibit his exuberant footballing skills, which he had been doing throughout his glorious career for Football Club Barcelona.

In his fairytale journey as a sportsman, the globe-trotting player was destined to win the planet's ultimate game in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on December 18.He has taught us to never ever give up, no matter what.

This is the reason why I keep on reiterating, "He's my inspiration!"

As the renowned British sports commentator Peter Drury had quipped in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, "Messi on the million backs...Messi on the flashbulbs...One kick of the ball!"

A version of this article appears in the print on January 23, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.