With what he is doing in Qatar, the number 10 of Argentina is showing that he is also a champion from a character point of view.
Lionel Messi was already in the group of the 5 best players of all time, where Maradona, Pelé, Di Stefano and Cruijff are also. But now, at the tail end of his career, aged 35, he can really approach the absolute pinnacle held by the former Argentina number 10.
To do that he needs two things: to win a World Cup and show that he has limitless class, and to be able to lead his teammates. He has actually achieved the second one.
Diego led a mediocre national team to the top of the world in 1986 and led an even weaker team 4 years later, despite being limited by physical problems. He was the only one in a team sport who was able to win on his own.
Pelé had absolute champions by his side, both in '58 and in '70. Di Stefano excelled with Real in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Cruijff worked wonders with his class, leading a team according to a logic unprecedented at the time. Maradona went on with rare quality, coupled with a leadership that did not come from his technical superiority alone.
Protecting teammates at all times, creating problems, fighting referees and opponents when necessary... Class and "gangster". An irresistible mix.
Messi has always missed the second. He gave his best with the Barcelona jersey, where he won everything, many more trophies than Diego, but he had a torturous relationship with the national team. Then something changed. Left Barcelona, won the Copa América a year ago and is now playing his second World Cup final 8 years after Brazil 2014.
Only the last step is missing, but the way Leo is handling Qatar 2022 speaks volumes. Friends are ready to jump on fire for him, the controversy with van Gaal, the sentence with which he addressed the Dutchman Weghorst (What are you looking at stupid? Get out of there), are proof that Leo feels like a leader and has no problem showing his instincts worse to reach the final goal.
But above all, the way he has taken the team by the hand, becoming a point of reference within the group... This is the real big change of Mesi Qatar, the technical and moral leader.
Leo has confirmed that it will be his last World Cup. By participating in the final, he will be the player with the most matches in the World Cup. He is interested in lifting the Cup, thus ending a career that would be the richest and most complete in history.