Argentina’s 3-0 win over Iceland last Tuesday gave Lionel Messi only a short window to influence the match, but he still changed its rhythm.
Messi came on for just over 20 minutes, helped create the chance that led to a penalty, then converted it himself. He was also involved in the move for Argentina’s third goal, underlining how quickly he can still alter a game.
That impact did not end on the pitch. After full-time, Venezuelan journalist Manu Gutierrez shared a moving account of how the Inter Miami star noticed him, listened and gave him a moment he had long imagined.
Manu Gutierrez explains Lionel Messi’s kind gesture after Argentina friendly
Gutierrez described the scene on X after speaking with Messi, explaining why the moment meant more than a simple interview.
He wrote a heartfelt message alongside the video of his encounter with the Argentine superstar, saying: “There’s a very popular saying that goes: ‘Never meet your heroes.’ A phrase that warns about a possible disappointment. Leo, like many from my generation, was my hero; seeing him on a screen or on a trading card made me happy.
“However, my dream wasn’t to get a photo with him or an autograph, but to be able to interview him and he, just like on the field, understood the whole play, even giving more than the context demanded.
“He spotted me in a crowd of people, despite being in a wheelchair, and he listened when I said: ‘I’m a journalist, Leo. One question, please…’ I clarified my profession because he hadn’t seen me in the mixed zone, where he spoke at length, but due to the height I was at, he hadn’t noticed me, so I moved towards where the fans were, and I didn’t mind being pushed or shoved; for some reason, I knew that if he saw me, he’d grant me the interview, and that’s exactly what happened.”
He then concluded: “Leo, if you’re reading this… which would already be too much, I just want to thank you because you didn’t only deliver another one of your impossible assists, you also made me incredibly happy with your generosity, and seeing the faces of my friends and family afterward is priceless.”
While Messi’s greatness is often defined by his talent and achievements, Gutierrez’s testimony showed there is more to it than that.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
