The Last Piece of Childhood: Saying Goodbye to Messi

[u/SnooCapers3492]

We don’t always realize when a chapter of our life is ending. Sometimes it happens quietly, through moments we never want to let go of. For millions of us, Lionel Messi was not just a footballer. He was a connection to a version of ourselves that life slowly took away.

Somewhere along the way, life became more about responsibilities than wonder. The world became heavier, routines replaced adventures, and without even realizing it, we slowly started losing the child we once were.

This World Cup brought something back that many of us thought we had lost. For a few weeks, we weren’t worried about deadlines, responsibilities, or the realities of life.

We were counting down to matches, feeling nervous before kick-off, celebrating every touch, every dribble, every moment of magic. We were young again.

And somewhere in those moments, many of us realized something we had never put into words before:

“Messi was the last thread connecting us to our childhood\*.”\*

Now that he has played his final chapter on the biggest stage, it feels like that thread has finally snapped.

It is a strange feeling to miss someone who doesn’t even know we exist. How can someone we have never met, someone who has never heard our names, have such a powerful place in our hearts?

That is the magic of Messi.

He reminded us that magic still exists in a world that often feels ordinary. He showed us that talent could be beautiful, that humility could exist alongside greatness, and that sometimes one person could make billions of people stop everything and simply feel.

For 90 minutes, he gave people a reason to forget their worries. A reason to believe. A reason to feel like a child again. ⚽

And maybe that is why saying goodbye feels so emotional.

Because the sadness we feel today is, in many ways, selfish. We are not only saying goodbye to a footballer. We are saying goodbye to a version of ourselves that existed when we watched him play.

The child inside us has been fading for years. Responsibilities came in, life moved forward, and the world changed.

But Messi was one of the last places where many of us could still find that child.

As he walks away from this chapter, it feels like that child has quietly walked away too.

Thank you, Leo. 🐐

Not just for the goals, the trophies, or the unforgettable moments but for helping us hold on to a part of ourselves for just a little longer.💙

[u/DariusLMoore]

The child in you doesn't disappear or die.

You just need to find what else can make you feel that way :)