Argentinian Lionel Messi is one of the finest footballers of our time, if not the greatest. He’s become a household figure also for people who don’t actively follow football. Alex de la Iglesia’s documentary is all the more interesting because it does not interview the star at all. The image of Messi and his life is drawn by old friends, teachers, journalists, teammates and the notoriety of the football world. They have been invited to a dinner party to discuss Messi.

There is a lot to talk about; everyone has stories to tell. Messi’s former physician explains the use of growth hormones, childhood friends talk about Messi’s relationship with his grandmother and teachers about his behaviour. Managers and coaches discern what makes Messi such a supreme player. Is he up there with his fellow Argentinian Maradona?

The dinner chat is interspersed with dramatized scenes of Messi’s adolescence and youth. There’s also genuine footage of Messi playing as a child and his early interviews.

The film reveals new things about Messi, for instance the reason why he salutes the sky in victory after scoring. As a person he remains distant, a purposefully mythical hero. Perhaps that’s why his star remains as bright as ever.

Text: Elli-Alina Hiilamo / Translation: Tapio Reinekoski

Language: Spanish
Subtitles: English