No other player will head to South Africa for the World Cup carrying an entire nation's hopes on his shoulders quite like Lionel Messi.
Argentina is among a handful of favorites for the monthlong tournament starting June 11, largely due to the masterful skills of Messi, whose mesmerizing play and collection of club titles have expectations in his native country soaring.
Messi helped lead Barcelona to a record six major trophies last year, including the Champions League title, and was voted world player of the year along the way. But none of that will matter if Messi can't guide Argentina to its first World Cup championship since 1986.
``I want to create my own story,'' said Messi, who turns 23 in June. ``I'll keep going on as I always do - keep myself isolated from all of the talk and try to play and do my best on the field.''
Quite simply, Messi has been amazing this spring.
At times he's looked like he's playing a level above his Spanish and European opponents, with a four-goal performance against Arsenal that was probably the best by any player this season.
``He's unbelievable, a soccer player who comes along every 25, 30 years,'' Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez said. ``He scores goals, pressures, defends. He's the best.''
That April 6 game at the Camp Nou has even managed to partially sway Messi's most critical followers - Argentines themselves.
Messi has often been criticized for failing to reproduce his club form on the international level, even though he has won an Olympic gold medal and a World Youth Championship for Argentina.
Messi, who left his native Rosario and Newell's Old Boys for Barcelona as a teenager, was even branded something of a traitor after scoring the winning goal against Estudiantes in the Club World Cup final in December.
``Something deep in my character allows me to take the hits and get on with trying to win,'' Messi said about his ability to deal with the tackles and physical burden his high-pace game brings. ``I've always had this ability to get up and get on with it.''
Since the 2007 Copa America, when favored Argentina lost 3-0 in the final to Brazil, the national team and Messi haven't exactly jelled. And since Diego Maradona took over as coach, things haven't improved much, either. Maradona hasn't managed to get the best out of Messi, using extra care and then tough words to motivate him to lead the team.
``It's what I want, what I hope for,'' Maradona said.
Maradona may have to look to Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola for the best approach.
Guardiola's discipline extends to the team, but the young Catalan coach does what he can to keep Messi happy. Guardiola has allowed Messi extra vacation time, he ultimately allowed Messi to play at the 2008 Beijing Olympics against the club's wishes, and he always accommodates Argentina's plans because - as Guardiola said - no player wants to do his country more proud than Messi.
``The key to Messi is Messi. There's no other,'' Guardiola said. ``It's just he's so good. He's ambitious, talented, a winner, competitive. He loves Barcelona and his country. He always wants to do well, always wants to play.''
Former Barcelona and Netherlands great Johan Cruyff said Messi's inability to replicate his club play for Argentina has more to do with the supporting cast, which includes Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Diego Milito.
``A lot of people ask why Leo isn't the same way when he plays with Argentina. It's because his teammates aren't the same, neither is his positioning on the field,'' Cruyff said. ``He has to run more, to find his place on an individual level and waste a lot of energy for nothing.
``Pep has put him out on the flank and found the spot that has turned him into the reference point for his teammates.''
Maradona will have to find the solution before Argentina's opening Group B game against Nigeria on June 12. Greece and South Korea are also in the same group.
``The most important thing,'' Messi said, ``is to score goals.''
