Messi

A documentary with a different execution among many, but that tells the story from a perspective through narratives, conversations, and interesting images.

"Messi" is an experience that can easily divide opinions due to its approach; however, its level of importance in relation to the player adds a lot to it. Without failing to mention the emphasis on Lionel Messi's football growth over the years.

Director Álex de la Iglesia presented a different alternative that has its merits, but in terms of recreated scenes, it leaves much to be desired. However, he makes every effort to provide a pleasant experience. The addition of famous football faces, coaches, commentators, family, and friends is of great importance.

Having the one and only Johan Cruijff in conversation is a masterclass for all the spectators. How he expresses himself, what he conveys, and his aura are on another level.

The documentary has remarkable reflective messages, promoting the Argentine's talent and his ability to adapt to his environment. Covering themes such as family bonds, the value of friendship, personal growth, continuous improvement, sacrifices, health, dreams, among others, are clearly depicted in what is seen on screen.

The editing of the documentary, the addition of images, and those real videos are brutal. Lionel Messi is another football legend, his potential and change of pace are incredible.

6.5/10.

this was just terrible! if you're not getting headache well done! man.. no wonder this film as only one nomination to some who knows prize.. the choose to interview so many people in a weird restorant was one of the worst i've seen. i'll never watch this director again! man this is one sick documentary!

He vs cr7 are the FW goat!! JUST A AWESOME MOVIE WITH HIS LIFE STORY.

Beautifully done with the conversational format and the background information.

I would like to state that some other reviewer mentioned to not call association football "soccer". Well, the British coined the name soccer in short for "association football". This was done to differentiate between rugby football, or "rugger", and association football, or "soccer".

Since the British invented the game, I don't think they'll take offense to your ignorance of the beautiful game's history.

American football, rugby football and association football can all be called football. I'd defer to the inventors of the game when calling association football soccer, instead of calling Americans names based on deeper prejudices.

Soccer is a beautiful game, by the way, and Messi is the greatest to every play.

Messi's Barcelona has the capacity to transform one's beliefs regarding football. With the Argentine at its centre, Rijkard's, Guardiola's, Villanova's and Enrique's teams have won all they could, but Barcelona stood out through the way in which it scintillated when Messi was playing his best. Which is most of the time, really.

De la Iglesia's documentary does not do him justice. Set in between highlights reels, flashback reconstructions and dull restaurant conversations, it feels like someone throwing as many ideas and emotions at you as possible, in the hope of playing a percentage game. The problem lies in the film's lack of focus and depth. Seemingly countless people are interviewed, sourced from Messi's childhood friends and teachers, the media, through to his current teammates or past coaches - a mixture bordering on the desperate, trying to fill the void of purpose. Yet, the material feels so slight and provides so little insight into who the man really is, that it tells little beyond a linear story. A story most people who follow Messi would know by now - the growth hormones, the challenges faced from living far from home at such an early age, the endless Maradona comparisons.

Nothing ever seems to go beyond the first layer of complexity. Five minutes or so are dedicated to the relationship Messi has to fans of the national team, there's a cursory mentioning of the tax fraud accusations, and the difficult, injury-plagued 2013-14 season is not brought up at all. As an ode to his footballing genius, there's something to grab a hold of here, but it barely manages to convey the beauty and poetry of what Messi achieves on a football pitch.

What's worse is that a much better movie could have come about, even relying on the limited input available. Why, if you have the likes of Pique, Mascherano, Iniesta or the former Argentine manager Alejandro Sabella, would you spend such a huge chunk of your time with flat memories of friends who are apparently no longer a part of Messi's life? The most watchable moments are those when Menotti or Cruyff discuss the wider importance of Messi to Barcelona, his tactical importance in relation to his technical abilities, but they are few and far between.

Unfortunately, the experience of de la Iglesia's documentary is too bland to matter and too emotionally manipulative to elicit actual feelings.