Before winning the 2022 World Cup, Lionel Messi’s trophy cabinet already resembled a museum exhibit. The Argentine wizard had claimed every important club and individual honor in the sport during his storied career. However, leading his national team to the ultimate prize had remained his elusive white whale. This storybook journey to global glory now comes alive in the new four-part Apple TV+ docuseries Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend.
Framed around extensive interviews with Messi himself, this intimate portrait follows his road to Qatar as captain of an Argentina squad shouldering sky-high expectations. We relive the agony of past disappointments through archival footage contrasted with the unbridled joy of this year’s Cinderella run. Charting the team’s rocky start, early exits in previous tournaments, and Messi’s brief 2016 retirement, the series ultimately crescendos to a cathartic and long-awaited hoisting of the hallowed trophy.
If you want insights from the dressing room and vivid behind-the-scenes access to a triumphant Messi like never before, this docuseries delivers. Stunning cinematography heightens the tension of pivotal matches, while colorful commentary from teammates and pundits alike adds flair. From the shocking loss to Saudi Arabia to the ecstatic finale versus France, here is the tale of the 2022 World Cup from the perspective of the men who lived it. So if you can’t get enough of the Argentine national team or the beautiful game itself, this intimate portrait will scratch your itch.
Behind the Curtain of the World’s Best
Perhaps the greatest strength of this docuseries is the unprecedented access it provides into the life of an intensely private superstar. Lionel Messi has long been notoriously selective about stepping into the spotlight off the pitch. Yet through exclusive interviews and fly-on-the-wall footage, we are granted a glimpse behind his usual veil of secrecy.
Intimate camerawork follows Messi from the solitude of his hotel room to raucous late-night celebrations on the team bus, portraying sides of his personality rarely shown publicly. Hearing him reflect candidly on carrying the weight of a nation’s expectations makes his human struggles relatable despite godlike talents. We get to know the principled family man, fiery competitor, and devoted captain who inspires awe in even his most accomplished teammates.
By using cinema verité techniques up close and personal with Messi and his squad, the filmmaking itself mirrors an underdog’s improbable victory. Handheld tracking shots take us down narrow hallways and into cramped locker rooms, heightening the stakes through claustrophobic close-ups. Slow motion capture of on-field artistry is equally breathtaking. This privileged vantage point allows us to appreciate genius at work while forging personal connections that make the triumph all the sweeter.
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Thanks to once-in-a-lifetime access, Messi finally steps forward from the long shadow of his own legend. Through glimpses of his life on and especially off the pitch, we discover the real man whose story captivated the world last December. For any football lover, it is a rare treat to witness.
A Rollercoaster Ride to Redemption
Like any great underdog story, this docuseries takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster before reaching its cathartic climax. Structured across four episodes, the narrative both foreshadows the ultimate triumph and leaves that outcome in doubt until the final moments. The filmmakers expertly manipulate pacing and craft edge-of-your-seat thrills even when revisiting matches whose results are already etched in history.
We open on the disastrous loss to Saudi Arabia that threatened to derail Argentina’s World Cup hopes right from the start. Messi sullenly reflects on the squad’s rattled mentality as they faced a must-win second match against Mexico. The first half focuses on the weight of expectations on the team and its captain, amplified by the ghosts of earlier disappointments. Haunting flashbacks to previous painful losses provide context for the nationwide angst.
Just when it seems Argentina may collapse again, a spark of brilliance from Messi himself shifts the momentum irrevocably in their favor. The next two episodes interweave growing confidence with lingering doubts to continually boost the dramatic stakes. Nail-biting scenes dissect the hard-fought win over Australia and then the bad blood with the Netherlands that nearly boiled over.
The final chapter leaves the eventual champagne celebration in legitimate question until the very last kicks of the climactic shootout. Expert editing keeps us guessing while ratcheting up the anticipation right through the trophy lift to the strains of Waka Waka in the closing frame. Thanks to masterful manipulation of foreshadowing and carefully-constructed tension, this series transforms a near-inevitable outcome into a thrill ride.
Insider Views from Friends and Teammates
While Messi himself features prominently, the docuseries also assembles an impressive roster of interviewees who enrich the narrative with their firsthand accounts. From childhood friends and long-time teammates to family members and coaching staff, the range of perspectives helps humanize a global icon.
We hear emotional reflections on Messi’s impact from Argentine legends like Javier Mascherano, Javier Zanetti, and Pablo Aimar who themselves know the unique pressure of national team duty. Barcelona legends like Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas lend insight into his development from prodigy to prime. And soundbites throughout from broadcasters like Gary Lineker position his excellence in historical context.
Most poignantly, interviews with today’s Albiceleste stars portray the deep admiration and loyalty Messi inspires to this day. While players like De Paul, Paredes, and Di Maria describe carrying out his on-field vision, their most candid comments reveal personal bonds off the pitch. The rare glimpses of fervent locker room speeches and late-night celebrations demonstrate he is both peer and leader.
Amidst the glowing praise, however, there may be room for more critical examination from journalists or even embittered past rivals regarding controversies over the years. But taken collectively, the range of interviewees provide well-rounded perspective to supplement the central narrative. We exit feeling we know the man, the teammate, the genius that led his country to long-elusive glory.
Turning Points Along the Road to Glory
While the docuseries features footage from throughout Argentina’s World Cup run, several pivotal games receive extended focus as narrative turning points. The disastrous opener against Saudi Arabia establishes the possibility of another potential heartbreak, making subsequent triumphs sweeter. The physical and emotional grind of Mexico presages a shift in momentum. And the bad blood with the Netherlands raises the stakes exponentially leading into the final weekend.
Undoubtedly, though, the shocking loss to the Saudis provides the early dramatic fuel. Messi describes the mood of disbelief in the locker room afterwards, having dominated the stats but failed to convert multiple chances. The disbelief shifts to desperation heading into their next must-win match against Mexico. Nail-biting sequences leading up to Messi’s magical opening goal capture the country on edge once more after draws in 2014 and 2018.
Later episodes revisit the Round of 16 thriller against Australia that portended a surge of confidence extending through to the finale. But above all, Argentina’s tempestuous clash with bitter rivals Netherlands steals the show. From the pre-match dustup over mind games, to the World Cup record 18 yellow cards, to the absurd 11.5 minutes of added time, this instant classic featured the highest stakes faced before reaching the final.
There are surprising omissions, however. In the focus on the Saudi shock, a dubious uncalled handball from Messi himself goes unmentioned. And the technical masterpiece semi against Croatia is essentially skipped past. But by zeroing in on the most dramatic moments, the series maximizes exhilarating entertainment.
Fairytale Finish Finds Its Forever Place
After chronicling the trials and tribulations leading up to the final, the docuseries sticks the landing with a goosebump-inducing portrayal of ultimate victory. We relive each tension-filled minute of the championship match through the eyes of those living it, culminating in unrestrained nationwide euphoria. Raucous crowd shots and raw locker room footage capture spillover joy, securing this team’s eternal spot in football lore.
The Episode 4 finale delivers satisfying closure by focusing extensively on the final versus France. Pre-match rituals and sideline agony lead towards inevitable penalties. Nail-biting reactions from fans, players, and commentators enhance the stakes throughout extra time. And the decisive shootout allows long-suffering stars like Messi and Di Maria their cathartic redemptions.
Yet the most stirring off-pitch content comes after the final whistle. Seeing Albiceleste players celebrate to the point of exhausted tears, promising tattoos to commemorate the journey, underscores the depth of team bonds forged. Montages of Argentine crowds consuming streets in sheer euphoria amplify national pride. Such visceral responses throughout hammer home this achievement’s monumental weight after decades of World Cup futility.
By fixating on the fairytale finish, the docuseries etches Messi’s legacy as the face of a newly-crowned champion into permanence. The unfiltered passion driving each memory promises it will retain mythic status for life. What better last act could one desire for a such a storied career?
A Must-See for Any Football Fan
Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend delivers a riveting chronicle of Argentina’s dramatic championship run that should satisfy both hardcore supporters and casual viewers alike. By blending unprecedented access to a notoriously private icon with masterfully edited match footage, the docuseries transports us directly inside the emotional rollercoaster.
The rare glimpse behind Messi’s curtain is undoubtedly the production’s greatest strength. Seeing his inspirational leadership and hearing firsthand accounts from those who know him best enhances appreciation tenfold. Pairing these insights with stunning cinematography and a genius-friendly pace makes for universally appealing entertainment.
There are minor weaknesses in glossing over a couple controversies and failing to incorporate more outside critical perspectives. Additionally, those already intimately familiar with Qatar 2022 may be hungry for more new information. But these are small quibbles for what is overall an expertly-crafted documentary arc with mass entertainment value.
For football supporters everywhere, whether ride-or-die Argentina fans or devotees of the beautiful game itself, this is mandatory viewing. Thanks to unprecedented access inside the inner sanctums of a champion team rallied around the world’s greatest, we gain appreciation for remarkable talent personified in a humble soul. That alongside the pure euphoria of a nation finally tasting glory after lifetimes of waiting cements this series in the pantheon. Do yourself a favor and witness greatness.
The Review
Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend
Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend beautifully chronicles the iconic captain lifting Argentina to supreme global glory in Qatar. Masterful editing and unprecedented insider access help this docuseries vividly recreate the dramatic journey while tugging on heartstrings along the way. Any football fan should consider this mandatory viewing.
PROS
- Unprecedented access to Messi's personal life
- Great behind-the-scenes World Cup footage
- Emotional interviews with teammates and friends
- Beautiful cinematography brings matches to life
- Expert editing builds exhilarating narrative tension
CONS
- Glosses over some Messi controversies
- Very Argentina-focused perspective
- Relies heavily on presumed familiarity with matches
- Finale episode lacks fresh information/footage
