There are more important things in life than winning or losing a

In the grand game of life, there are few sentiments more profound than that expressed by the great Lionel Messi when he said, "There are more important things in life than winning or losing a game." These words resonate deeply, for they call our attention to the nature of competition, success, and purpose. While victory and defeat are often seen as the ultimate measures of achievement in the world of sport, Messi’s wisdom urges us to reflect on the deeper, more meaningful aspects of existence. Winning or losing, in the grand scheme of life, are not the end-all and be-all. It is the journey, the values we uphold, and the character we build that truly shape our lives.

The ancients understood this well. In the tales of Homer’s Iliad, the Greek heroes fought not for the mere joy of victory, but for honor, glory, and the legacy they would leave behind. Achilles, for all his prowess, found that victory came at a great personal cost. In the end, his pursuit of glory led him to a tragic fate, showing that even the greatest of victories can be hollow if the soul is lost in the pursuit of fleeting triumphs. Homer himself, through the stories of Odysseus, also emphasized that the true measure of a man is not his successes or failures, but his ability to navigate the journey with wisdom, honor, and a sense of purpose.

In the Stoic tradition of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, we find a similar understanding of the futility of focusing solely on outcomes. Epictetus taught that external events—such as winning or losing—are beyond our control. What we control is how we respond to those events. The Stoics believed that true success lay in mastering our inner peace, in remaining steadfast and virtuous regardless of whether we triumphed or suffered defeat. To them, life was not about accumulating external victories but about cultivating wisdom, courage, and resilience in the face of adversity. Thus, Messi’s reflection on the game is echoed by the Stoics, who remind us that how we play is far more important than the score at the end.

Consider the story of Socrates, the ancient philosopher, who was sentenced to death for his beliefs. Though he was condemned, he chose to face his fate with calmness and integrity, rather than seeking to avoid defeat at all costs. In his final moments, he spoke not of regrets over his loss, but of the honor in living a virtuous life. Socrates’ life teaches us that integrity and principles far outweigh the fleeting importance of winning or losing. His example invites us to reflect on how we face challenges and how we remain true to our values, regardless of the outcome.

Messi’s wisdom resonates particularly strongly in our modern age, where the world seems obsessed with victories—in sports, in business, and even in personal life. We often measure success by the external achievements, the trophies, the awards, and the accolades. But just as Marcus Aurelius teaches in his Meditations, the external world cannot define us. The Stoic emphasis was on cultivating virtue and character as the truest measures of success, something that would not change with the shifting tides of fortune. Messi’s insight invites us to ask: are we living only for the trophies and the recognition, or are we also living for the values we uphold, the connections we forge, and the integrity we maintain?

In our own lives, we must take Messi’s lesson to heart: the journey is as important—if not more so—than the outcome. Whether in sports, career, or relationships, it is how we engage with the world, how we handle success and failure, and how we grow along the way that defines us. Winning may bring momentary joy, but the lessons we learn, the resilience we build, and the relationships we foster along the way are what truly matter. It is not the trophy that sustains us but the wisdom, compassion, and strength we gather during the journey.

Thus, we must not become consumed by the desire for victory, but rather seek to live with purpose and honor in all we do. Let us embrace both success and failure as teachers. In times of triumph, let us remain humble, and in times of defeat, let us find the courage to rise again. Life is not a contest to be won but a journey to be experienced. Let us walk that journey with wisdom, compassion, and courage, and in doing so, we will find the true meaning of success—not in the trophies we collect, but in the way we live.