Messi is not soccer’s Messiah
Dear COAH,
Lionel Messi is the talk of the town. Every sports page is about the Cinderella story of Inter Miami winning the League's Cup title because of the arrival of Lionel Messi. In all fairness, Messi was the difference. Before him, the team had a ten-game winless streak. After his arrival, he scored in seven straight games. He helped the last-place team win the Leagues Cup, in which nearly fifty teams from North America's Major League Soccer and Mexico's Liga MX participated. He proved to the world that he was still a superstar in his mid-30s. Soccer fans quickly buy tickets that have risen tenfold to see Messi's play.
Messi is an outstanding world-class player. There is no question about that. My dissatisfaction is with those who read the soccer news only superficially: Many may need to learn that behind Messi's success are the two Spanish internationals who also came to Inter Miami with Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. These two players are currently playing for the Spanish national team. They were Messi's teammates for a long time in Barcelona. With three players each on the attacking, midfield, and defensive lines, Inter Miami's lineup has completely transformed. They instinctively know each other's movements and play well together. Not only that, but they also inspire their fellow teammates by displaying excellent soccer IQs. The newly recruited trio has been a source of hope and strength to all teammates. They send a strong signal, "We can win, too!" The trio inspired the whole team to go on to win the Leagues Cup. Yes, everyone did their part.
Please don't get me wrong. I am not here to downplay what Messi has accomplished. His fighting spirit and the sheer power of concentration to dramatically rescue the team from a sure defeat are amazing. By mentioning Busquets and Alba and praising everyone on the team, I have no intention of overlooking what Messi did. One thing I must point out, though, is that people pay attention to the surface and forget behind-the-scenes. Anyone who has ever played soccer knows that soccer is all about teamwork and understanding the game's flow.
It's the first time I have talked about soccer at such a length in my pastoral column. There is a reason for this. Our church is currently looking for the next senior pastor. It is natural to have high expectations for the incoming leader. But let's not forget that the church's life is like a soccer team. One person does not dictate the whole thing. All of us must do our part. When we strive to be spiritually mature, we will be a church that pleases God and brings the power of the gospel to the world. Let's be clear: Messi is not soccer's Messiah. If he were so, he would not need ten other players.
Blessings,
Pastor Minho Song