MAP Strategic Wealth Advisors

The Lionel Messi Guide to Living

Five takeaways:

1. Lionel Messi, a 35-year-old soccer player from Argentina, recently led his team to victory in the World Cup final, solidifying his place in the sport’s history. This article discusses how Messi’s lifestyle and approach to the game allowed him to excel at such an advanced age in the sport.
2. Messi is often compared to Portuguese soccer player Ronaldo, who was also 37 and participating in his last World Cup. Ronaldo struggled with the limitations of his age and was visibly upset when his team was eliminated in the quarterfinals against Morocco. In contrast, Messi was able to use his experience and tactical skills to excel on the field and lead his team effectively.
3. Throughout the tournament, Messi lived up to his global stature and maintained a galactic level of play by embracing his limitations– not trying to overcome them. He used his experience to conserve energy on the field, make pinpoint tactical decisions, and find weaknesses in opposing defenses. It “wasn’t just the product of natural gifts but also the accumulated wisdom of a career.”
4. His experience also informed the way he led his Argentinian teammates– knowing when to show emotion to referees while also providing a more restrained leadership style. “He took responsibility for his team while never acting as if he transcended his team,” Foer states.
5. In a world that covets youth, we can learn from Messi’s success. Instead of straining to live up to his former speed and power, he embraced his experience both mentally and physically– to the benefit of not only his team, but his country.

From Franklin Foer at The Atlantic:
Read the whole story.

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