How did Argentina's Lionel Messi become the greatest player of all time and win the World Cup?
Lionel Messi: Predetermination on BBC One on Saturday, 3 June at 22:20 GMT, and on BBC iPlayer another BBC narrative recounts within story of how the incomparable Lionel Messi at long last won the World Cup. With Argentina's victory over Qatar, Messi finally won the trophy he had been chasing after four unsuccessful attempts...
At 35 and playing in his fifth World Cup, Messi had one last chance to win a major trophy in Qatar in 2022.
Interviews with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and goalkeeper Emi Martinez of Aston Villa shed light on what transpired behind the scenes in Qatar and how the team was constructed around Messi so that he could perform at his mesmerizing best during the crucial moments of the tournament.
Uncovering knowledge from Manchester City's Julian Alvarez and Brighton's Alexis Macintosh Allister take watchers somewhere inside a camp where another type of young Argentine ability arose and freed the best once again from Messi.
The transformation of Messi from a shy and quiet goal scorer to an inspiring leader is revealed in additional interviews with former players and journalists embedded in the Argentina squad as well as rare footage from behind the scenes. This transformation is brought to the forefront during the volatile World Cup quarterfinal matchup against the Netherlands.
This documentary retells Argentina's rollercoaster tournament, which began with a humiliating loss to Saudi Arabia in the opening match and ended with Martinez's glorious penalty-taking heroics in the championship game.
An enamoring story, the central participants strip back the layers on ostensibly the best World Cup last in history against France - a match which saw Messi lift the popular prize and satisfy his fate as the best player ever.