New Delhi, Sept. 5 -- It has been a roller-coaster, emotional ride for sports fans across the globe in many ways over the last week. News of GOAT - Greatest Of All Time - Lionel Messi walking away from international football has saddened millions. At the same time, to witness the biggest tennis star, Novak Djokovic, throw up, belch and lose in the first round of the US Open in New York is a reminder that there are no guarantees in sports.

For those who have followed the voyage of Messi, when he burst onto the international scene over two decades back for Argentina, he was almost unknown. If there were folks who said he would go on to become even greater than Diego Maradona, it's a hoax. Despite all his weaknesses, mostly by way of behaviour and being a brilliant footballer lacking discipline, Maradona was loved. That is, if you ignore the British media.

Messi was entering the turf for Argentina carrying loads of expectation from a nation where football is a passion and a religion. The big difference was that Messi, short at five feet and seven inches, had already proved his potential in club football in Europe. The world of football is an intense one where there is no dearth of riches for the players. That, perhaps, explains the kind of lavish lifestyle CR7 - Cristiano Ronaldo - is able to flaunt. Far away from Portugal, where he is hailed as King, even past his prime, Ronaldo is respected.

There have been many notable football stars in a relatively poorer European nation. For Ronaldo to live up to the hype and be seen as a star who can serve as a role model is important. For those who like to hype Messi versus Ronaldo, it was a no-brainer. So, when Messi arrived and showed how good he was at football in Europe, the world took notice.

Messi's giant shadow

Having successfully established himself in European club football, Messi then had to go about the task of delivering for Argentina. In a sport like football, to excel in club football, be it in Spain, England, Italy or Argentina alone, is not enough. How the star fires for his nation in the FIFA World Cup is more important. Messi took on the pressure, almost absorbing it like a sponge, and stepped onto the turf as an Argentine role model. He was constantly being compared, with people wondering if he could become as big as Maradona. Truth to tell, as Messi walked into the sunset, there is little doubt that he leaves Maradona behind in the shade.

What is it about Messi that people love? At five feet and seven inches, he was seen as short. In football, there is no need to be tall, broad and use only muscle to show stage presence. Messi was sneaking through rival defences so easily that he had become the toast of Argentina. Each World Cup campaign for him was getting harder, so much so that, till he had delivered the biggest trophy, there was unrest.

The ultimate triumph

How Messi and his boys pulled off that FIFA World Cup win in 2022 in Doha was magical. It was one of the biggest showpiece events, even as doubts persisted over the capability of a desert nation where heat and many more conditions were challenging. People have said Doha is not Europe or South America. Never mind, for Messi, it was and is a brilliant hunting ground. It can never be forgotten from public memory.

The final farewell

In the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, yes, the hype was on Argentina. Messi was again the cynosure, even as he was battling emotions which many did not know of. Leo Messi was physically ready for Argentina, despite being 39, but his father, Jorge, being unwell was hurting the champion. News broke that Messi was not 100 per cent 'into' the World Cup. That was false. Messi showed his best before Spain ran away with the trophy this time in the United States of America. Some football writers were ready to write his last chapter in international football.

Messi put it on hold.

Why?

The emotions are massive after a hard World Cup campaign. In a sport where fitness means so much and where it is so hard to be in peak shape, Messi was still kicking so beautifully. Left foot and right foot, the ball was at his mercy. Alas, he did not fire up Argentina in the finale, and Spain rose as champions.

Messi took time to realise that even this campaign was a massive load on his frame. And now, with his father departing, Messi was battling so many more emotions. His retirement post read like poetry minus the gloss. Messi bade farewell, leaving fans stunned. Another World Cup is four years away. There will be a major football showpiece event again in the form of the Summer Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles. Messi won't be there, and let that sink in.

For those who view sport as passion, emotions and how a few moments in the field of play can bring joy, Messi will be missed. Agreed, Messi will play in Europe, but that will never be the same. Thanks, Leo, you were the maestro.

Novak feels the heat

In New York, the heat has been killing. It's hard to play high-level tennis there at this time of the year. On the heat index, it's not as dry as Melbourne in January during the Australian Open. Yet, the humidity is choking in New York, on the eastern side of the USA. Novak Djokovic has played for over two decades in New York. This time, there were doubts. For some reason, he is no longer able to handle the heat. Even in a warm-up event before the US Open, Novak had to pull out after puking.

As much as fans blame age and how it is catching up with the Serbian star, the truth is different. He has a diet plan which has worked well for him till now. Novak's hydration methods are well-known. So, if he is throwing up courtside and even ice towels and cold compression do not work, it is sad. For a headline writer, 'Novak can't take the heat' may be a good one-liner.

Just like Messi, Novak did not respond immediately after losing in New York. The 39-year-old champion, who owns 24 Grand Slam singles titles and many more records, including the gold medal from the Paris 2024 Olympics, will still be in the fray. He has not mentioned retirement. On the contrary, Novak is enjoying tennis as a family sport where his wife Jelena and his kids are around him. They mean the world to him as he deals with the highs and lows.

As for retirement, never try and pose that question to Novak Djokovic. He is not going to give you an answer in clear words. Deep down, Nole wants to play in Los Angeles, at the Summer Olympics, one more time. As it is, Novak has cut hard on his tournament schedule. For a man who said so much in a documentary on why he avoided the Covid vaccine jabs and talked of being very healthy, dealing with heat will be on his agenda. He will not tell you and me about it, for he knows his body best. Modern science and sports medicine are there for Novak to fall back upon. If he can push his career, why not? The final choice is his, as a professional athlete.

Talk of fitness and dealing with the challenges, even Indian star Neeraj Chopra has again cut short his 2026 calendar. The latest injury to his ankle ligament is cause for worry. It's a part of the body where maximum force is exerted. Before this, Neeraj's 'back' had become a major concern. Hopefully, we will see Neeraj prepare again for an assault on one more Olympic campaign in 2028. Two Olympic medals are prized possessions in his drawing room cabinet!

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.