From toddler to World Cup winner: A look at Lionel Messi. Watch video

Finally, in 2022, the dream became a reality with Argentina lifting the cup following a marvelous show against France.

Taking to Instagram, he posted a short video, which is basically a collage of years that he has played. From a toddler to a teenager to the 35-year-old Argentina captain, watch years of Messi playing:

He writes an emotional post with the video, from Grandoli to the World Cup in Qatar, almost 30 years passed. It was close to three decades in which the ball gave me many joys and also some sadness. I always had the dream of being a World Champion and I didn’t want to stop trying, even knowing that it might never happen.

This Cup that we won is also for all those who did not achieve it in the previous World Cups that we played, like in 2014 in Brazil, where everyone deserved it because of how they fought until the very final, worked hard and wanted it as much as I did… And we deserved it even in that damn ending.

It is also from Diego who encouraged us from heaven. And of all those who always bankrolled the National Team without looking so much at the result but rather the desire that we always put into it, also when things did not go as we wanted.

And of course, it is from all this beautiful group that was formed and from the coaching staff and all the people from the national team who, being anonymous, work day and night to make it easier for us.

Many times failure is part of the journey and of learning, and without disappointment it is impossible for success to come.

Thank you very much from the heart! Let’s go Argentina!