As the world contemplates the extraordinary contribution of Argentine footballer Mr Lionel Messi, among the more intriguing aspects must surely be that until very late in his career he seemed an underachiever at the international level.

Consider that as a very young man — an Olympic Gold medallist in 2008 and leading star in the great Barcelona teams during his 16 years with the Spanish club — he was repeatedly acclaimed the globe’s finest attacking player.

Yet he was well into his 30s before claiming Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, and best of all, the much-coveted senior men’s FIFA World Cup in 2022. That last being the first for Argentina since the flawed genius Mr Diego Maradona lit up football in 1986.

And at age 39, Mr Messi’s jaw-dropping performance — scoring eight times while carrying Argentina to the final of the recent 2026 World Cup before losing 0-1 to brilliant Spain — left us in awe.

For those of us looking on from a distance, it seemed that in more recent years Mr Messi grew immensely in mental strength to match his physical fitness and spectacular natural talent, which he continued to hone. More evidence, if any were needed, that hunger for more and the will to win should never be underestimated in human endeavour — and that age need not hinder growth.

In 2014, Mr Messi — at his physical peak — played well to lift Argentina, but that extra edge required to get past Germany in the World Cup final was missing.

The 35-year-old, who confidently grabbed the 2022 World Cup tournament by the scruff of the neck to guide Argentina to the title, had grown by leaps and bounds since 2014.

Long recognised as a predominantly left-sided player — his right foot a poor second — Mr Messi looked the complete two-footed article at the recent global tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Indeed, defenders primed to counter his magical left foot were repeatedly defeated by Mr Messi’s pinpoint right-footed crosses.

So now, having achieved excellence at all levels over a professional career dating back more than two decades, Mr Messi is calling time on international football. While he did so previously in 2016, only to quickly change his mind, that scenario is unlikely to be repeated. For, as he said on Monday, there is “nothing left to give” — nor does he have anything else to prove.

Soon, too, we expect he will walk away as a professional.

We are inclined to believe that only the great Brazilian, Pele (Mr Edson Arantes do Nascimento) can be reasonably framed ahead of Mr Messi on the list of the world’s greatest footballers.

Former Jamaica national player Mr Jobi McAnuff relates a story of Mr Messi spending time with Jamaica players and support staff, following a COPA America engagement in 2015, depicting, he suggests, not just a great player but a wonderful human being.

Said Mr McAnuff: “He [Mr Messi] just took his time, signed every autograph, shaking hands, pictures, like [he was] class. He did not have to do that. They’re the little things for me that just set him apart…”

Our world is so much better for having had the services of Mr Messi. What’s up ahead for him? Coaching perhaps? We wait.