Mid-Day Exclusive | ‘It will be difficult to watch Argentina without Messi’: Sunil Chhetri

Sunil Chhetri and Lionel Messi. Pics/AFP

[popcorn number="88 per cent" desc="Percentage of goals Lionel Messi scored for Argentina with his trusted left foot (111); he scored 12 with his right foot, and two with his head" class="Default"]

[popcorn number="185" desc="No. of goal contributions (125 goals + 60 assist) for Lionel Messi in 207 games for Argentina" class="Default"]

[popcorn number="35" desc="No. of goals scored by Lionel Messi across all major competitions (World Cup + Copa America); no men's footballer has scored more in major competitions (World Cup + continental tournaments)" class="Default"]

When it comes to Lionel Messi, former India captain and mercurial striker Sunil Chhetri is quite like the millions worldover, a fan. And Messi's decision to retire his Argentine jersey on Monday, has left Chhetri just as sad.

In an exclusive interview with mid-day, Chhetri talks about how Messi makes the Beautiful Game even more pretty.

Edited excerpts

In the past, you've spoken about your adoration for Lionel Messi. Today, not as a player or former India captain, but as a fan, how do you react to Messi's international retirement?
As a fan, it's obviously very sad. It's going to be difficult to watch Argentina without Lionel Messi. The magic he brought to the pitch was unlike anything most of us have seen in our time. For so many years, whenever Argentina played, you knew there was always the possibility that Messi would do something special; something you hadn't seen before. That's what made watching him such a privilege.

As a player and leader yourself, what are the traits in Messi the player and Messi the leader that you've always looked up to?
There are far too many traits to look up to when you're talking about one of the greatest footballers ever. But if I had to pick one, it would be his never-say-die attitude and the love he has for the teams he represents.

You can see how passionate he is about every club he has played for and, of course, about Argentina. We've seen what losing meant to him, and we've also seen what winning meant to him. He never hid from either emotion. That connection and commitment to the badge is something that really stands out.

And as a leader, I think he has shown that there are different ways to lead. You don't always have to be the loudest person in the room. Sometimes, the way you perform, the responsibility you take and the way you show up for your teammates can say much more.

People always compare Messi to Maradona. What's your take on this comparison?
I think football is a team sport, and comparing individuals, especially players from completely different generations, is something we probably do a little too often. Every generation has had its own hero. Diego Maradona was that player for the 80s and 90s. Messi has been that player for the last two decades. Both gave football something incredibly special in their own way.

Hopefully, the next generation will also have someone they can watch and feel mesmerised by. But instead of constantly comparing great players, maybe we should just appreciate how fortunate we've been to watch them.

Which is your favourite Messi goal?
For Argentina, I'd probably pick his hat-trick against Brazil in 2012, especially the winning goal. That was Messi at the peak of his powers. It was a high-scoring game, and then late on, he produced that moment; dribbling past players and finishing it himself. That was vintage Messi.

They say football is a physical game, but Messi, with his not-so-big frame, was also menacing. Your thoughts on Messi's small but powerful frame?
I think that's one of his most amazing traits. Despite his diminutive frame, he has always found a way to wriggle through players who are bigger and stronger and are using every bit of their physicality to stop him.

His balance, his low centre of gravity and his strength on the ball are extraordinary. People often talk about his dribbling and his speed, but his ability to absorb contact and still come away with the ball is just as remarkable. The fact that he has been doing that consistently for close to 20 years is probably the most incredible part.

Would you also, like an ordinary fan, fear for Messi's safety whenever defenders tend to hack him down to stop him?
As a footballer, especially someone who is tasked with dribbling, creating chances and scoring goals, you know you're going to come up against a few rash challenges and tough tackles. That's part of the game.

As a fan, of course, it can be difficult to watch someone like Messi being constantly targeted. You want to see him playing football and producing those moments of magic. But at the same time, defending against players like him is incredibly difficult, and defenders will do whatever they can within the game to stop him. Managing that attention and those challenges has also been a huge part of Messi's brilliance over the years.