This World Cup, like every world cup, had a lot to teach us. But one story stood out above the others: the fairy tale story of Lionel Messi.

Messi is world renowned, possibly the most famous soccer player of our age even though he looks like your run of the mill hipster barista. His skills make him possibly the most outstanding player alive, but to many he couldn’t compare with legends of the past, because he hadn’t won the World Cup.

This year was likely to be Messi’s last chance to win the cup. Think pieces, documentaries, podcasts, everyone was talking about Messi’s chance to end his career with a happily ever after. But when the tournament started with a stunning defeat to Saudi Arabia and a lackluster win against Mexico, many people began to talk about how it wouldn’t end well for him. So there was a lot of excitement and uncertainty as the next round approached.

Twas the night before the Second Round

And all ’round the earth

No one was comfortable

In their Round of 16 Berth…

–A silly poem I wrote to your uncles and grandpa before the second round

But as the tournament progressed, Messi grew into the matches. He helped pilot the team through the challenges of knockout matches. As time went on the best teams continued to win, and the best players continued to showcase their skills. Suddenly there was a feeling that Messi might yet win the trophy that had eluded him and end his international career with a flourish.

Still there was reality to deal with. Specifically the fact that real life isn’t a fairy tale. There are any number of fairy tales that could happen, but don’t. In this tournament there were fifteen other teams that felt just as destined. There was a raft of other great stories to hear and legends to tell, and there was excitement for all of them. There was every reason to expect that the fairy tale wouldn’t come true. And as first Australia and then Holland pushed Messi’s team to the limit, only for them to come out on top anyway. But there was still a final to play.

The upsets were over

But the drama was great

both legends and new stars

had made the last eight…

Then during the quarters

There arose such a clatter

Even non-fans tuned in

to see what was the matter

Surprise wins delighted

and PKs caused pain

As Brazil and Ronaldo were ousted

And so too, Harry Kane

Three more stanzas of poetry written after the octa/quarter finals

So we reached the final. The last team in the way of the fairy tale ending was France, the reigning champions, and a team with little patience for narratives. Your grandpa came over, and the whole world tuned in. It looked as though Messi would lead his side to an easy win…until it didn’t.

First one goal, then another, and France had the momentum. Messi scored again…and so did France. It seemed that the fairy tale would end…until, it didn’t, and the dream came true.

Then with the last whistle blown

and the trophy raised high

All our month-long obsessions

Vanished like dust in the sky

With Leo Messi triumphant

And Argentinean victory

We relish the moments

And call on our memories

–Post semis and finals stanzas

That was the big take away. Everywhere I turned, all those think pieces, documentaries, and podcasts, they all echoed the same thing. I tried to think of something different, another moral, another lesson, but honestly, that’s the truth. sometimes, fairy tales do come true (especially if you work tirelessly).

That’s something worth remembering. Given that most of the World Cup carried the stink of corruption, of bribery, of abuse and intolerance, it’s easy to forget that there are magical things that happen. That cynicism can creep into everything that we do until we blind ourselves to even the non-Messi fairy tales.

I even saw it a few days after the tournament, as an article introduced a new series on another website. The Athletic will follow 7 players from around the world before the next World Cup kicks off in 2026. One of them, Bikash Yumnam, plies his trade for our own Roundglass Punjab FC. So this series is right in my wheel house, and I was discouraged to read a comment from a fellow reader.

I don’t see the point of following a player who’s still playing in the 2nd Indian division at age 19. He’s likely not going anywhere.

–Athletic Reader “Kim P.”

Perhaps I’m defensive of Punjab FC. Perhaps I’m sentimental. Perhaps I personalized an online comment that maybe took the writer twenty seconds to think about. But this is exactly what drives me crazy. We just saw a fairy tale ending for one of the greatest players of all time. Why can’t we suspend our disbelief and hope for a fairy tale for 19 year old Center back from Manipur?

We can. We should. Because fairy tales come true. Bikash likely won’t win the World Cup in 4 years, but maybe it will. Maybe his fairy tale will end with a Hero League trophy. Maybe it will end with an Asian Cup appearance. Maybe it will end with a hamstring tear that leaves him to find the love of his life. Who knows what it will be, but whatever it is, maybe we can appreciate the magic of it just as much as we believe in the magic of Messi.

Yay Likovic, yay Hakimi

Yay Doan and Gakpo

Yay McCallister, yay Kudus

Yay Adams and Ramo–s

We’ll cheer and we’ll cheer

all through the highlights

Happy World Cup to all

And to all a goodnight

–The end of my poem, another silly bit with dreams about future stars.