Former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran has described Lionel Messi as the 'driving force' and 'uniting force' behind Argentina's charge to the FIFA World Cup final against Spain, saying the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner remains the defining figure of the reigning champions both on and off the pitch.

Messi's Legacy on the Line

Prabhakaran, speaking ahead of the final, underlined how much is at stake for Messi's already towering legacy. Argentina have won three World Cups in total, with Messi having lifted the trophy only once — at Qatar 2022. A second consecutive title would place him in territory previously uncharted even by Diego Maradona.

'With Messi, Argentina now only gets bigger in terms of what it is because, definitely, Argentina has a bigger football legacy, and they have won three World Cups, and only one with Messi; that was the last one, and (Diego) Maradona was one of the biggest legacies for them previously. Now, with Messi playing in his third final and a chance to win a second consecutive World Cup for Argentina, that legacy will be unmatched in many ways,' Prabhakaran said.

More Than Goals: The Messi Effect

Prabhakaran pointed to Messi's eight goals in the tournament so far, but argued the numbers alone do not capture his influence. He cited Messi's two assists in the semi-final against England — which sent Argentina through to the final for the second successive time — as evidence of a contribution that transcends the scoresheet.

'He is the one who is dictating the game and who is making the biggest influence on the game and all the games that we have seen so far. He has scored eight goals, but then more than eight goals, he has made an influential impact to make the difference in the game and the result,' Prabhakaran noted.

Unity, Not Just Brilliance

Beyond individual skill, Prabhakaran argued that Messi's most underrated quality is his ability to galvanise those around him. He said teammates are driven to exceed their own limits simply by sharing a pitch with the Argentine captain.

'Messi is definitely the bigger aspect for Argentina but then he unites Argentina like never before and that is the spirit he kind of drives in the team... he is the driving force and he is the uniting force, and that is where players are giving more than 100% seeing Messi and what he is capable of doing,' Prabhakaran stated.

On Social Media Criticism

Argentina's path to the final has attracted scrutiny online, with allegations circulating about their style of play and the manner of their victories. Prabhakaran dismissed these as a feature of the social media era rather than substantive criticism.

'It's in the social media era; this is what happens. Everyone's success is followed by people, and they get jealous of what it is. Therefore, I don't read much into it because it is a game which is a complete open book,' he said, adding that 'things that are not even facts get amplified' in the digital environment.

He further argued that the allegations are driven by personal loyalties rather than evidence, calling them 'fiction rather than realities.' With the final now imminent, Prabhakaran expects the spotlight to fall squarely on Messi once more — not just for his footballing brilliance, but for the belief and leadership he continues to instil in the team around him.