I'm lucky to be part of a team who help to make me look good

When Lionel Messi declared, “I’m lucky to be part of a team who help to make me look good, and they deserve as much of the credit for my success as I do for the hard work we have all put in on the training ground,” he spoke not as a solitary champion but as one who understands the sacred bond of fellowship. His words remind us that true success is never the labor of one alone, but the fruit of many hearts working in unison. The glory of the individual is but the reflection of the collective, and the hero’s light is magnified by the hands that steady him.

The ancients knew this truth well. The Greeks, when they spoke of victory at the Olympic Games, did not only honor the athlete, but the polis, the city-state that trained, nurtured, and supported him. For behind the runner was his coach, behind the wrestler his companions, behind the warrior his comrades in arms. So too does Messi confess: without the team, without the endless hours on the training ground, without the unseen labor of those who pass, defend, and run alongside him, his brilliance could not shine as brightly.

Consider the story of Alexander the Great. Though remembered as one of history’s greatest conquerors, even he knew his victories were not his alone. After the battle of Gaugamela, he honored his generals and his soldiers, for their loyalty and discipline had carried him to triumph. He may have held the vision, but they carried the weight. This same humility beats within Messi’s words: the star may strike the goal, but the pass that set it up, the defense that protected him, the coach who shaped him—all share in the credit.

There is deep humility in Messi’s recognition of being “lucky.” Many in his place might claim only their own brilliance, but he confesses fortune—that he has been blessed to walk with companions who uplift him. This humility is not weakness; it is strength, for it acknowledges the reality that greatness is never isolated. To deny the role of others is to sever oneself from truth; to honor them is to grow even greater in the eyes of both gods and men.

His words also speak of the unseen work—the training, the repetitions, the sweat shed far from the roaring crowd. The world sees the ninety minutes of brilliance, but not the countless hours of preparation. And within those hours, it is not the individual alone who labors, but the team, pushing one another, correcting, encouraging, sharpening. Thus, when victory comes, it is not the triumph of one man, but the harvest of many.

The lesson for us is clear: never imagine that your success belongs to you alone. Behind every achievement stand teachers, mentors, companions, and even rivals who have shaped your path. To forget them is to fall into arrogance; to honor them is to stand in truth. If you would be great, remember always that greatness is shared, and that no man ascends the mountain without the steady hands of others holding the rope.

Practically, this means cultivating gratitude. Speak openly of those who support you. Share your honors with your companions. In your work, lift others as they lift you, for in strengthening them you strengthen yourself. And in moments of triumph, do not boast alone—acknowledge the team, the family, the community that made your triumph possible.

Thus, Messi’s words shine not only for athletes, but for all who strive. Success is never a solitary crown, but a laurel woven by many hands. To recognize this is to walk with humility, to live with gratitude, and to inspire others to give their best. And in the end, this spirit of shared glory will outlast trophies and titles, becoming the true measure of greatness.