Let me come clean: I am not the world’s biggest soccer fanatic. I can’t fully appreciate the beautiful game like others can. But I know one thing for sure, for the entirety of the 2026 World Cup, I’ve been locked in on Argentina and its star Lionel Messi.
On Saturday, the South American squad defeated Switzerland 3-1 in a thrilling contest. The victory was yet another in a string of exciting games for Messi and co. But while I don’t have any Argentinian ancestry in my blood that I know of, I’m rooting for the team because of Messi’s incredible example.
Born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, the 39-year old, 5-foot-7 forward looks ageless on the pitch. Watching him, watching the way he’s playing as he leads his team to win after win on the field, I believe what Messi is doing should be celebrated.
Today, there are so many great examples of longevity in sports, it almost makes your head spin.
In football, there was Tom Brady, who played in the NFL until he was 45. LeBron James is 41 and he’s still playing in the NBA at an All-NBA-le level and he’s now even suiting up with his son. Messi is 39 years old and leading his team to victories, hoping to repeat as World Cup champs.
As business leaders, it’s important to take a lesson from these athletic icons. Because their longevity and prolonged greatness is no accident. It’s the result of precise, concerted, detailed effort.
And it’s inspiring.
These days, longevity is a topic of conversation. Many are fascinated by the idea of living longer, better. But where longevity shows up is in the magic others get to witness—like an NBA alley-oop between father and son during a Laker game.
There is a beauty to seeing people like Messi and Brady pursue greatness at an age when most of their peers are laying back in recliners. But they aren’t just has-beens suiting up to sell jerseys. No, they have been leading their teams to crucial wins.
They are living proof of what taking care of yourself can do for your legacy and global impact.
Sometimes the pursuit of greatness can be a selfish thing. But what I love about LeBron, Brady and Messi is that they’ve contributed to their team’s success at advanced ages. They win and we can’t keep our eyes off them.
LeBron famously spends millions of dollars on his fitness and conditioning. Brady famously built a dietary philosophy under his TB12 umbrella. Like his peers, Messi also diligently focuses on diet and training.
But while we can’t all achieve a fitness at their level, we can always do better with our own.
So often in our professional careers, we think that a full workday only includes emails, typing out reports, closing deals—you get the idea. But we should also consider key aspects to our routine like exercise and eating well.
It may sound simple, it may sound trite, but you aren’t going to be able to help your newest client at your best if, well, you aren’t at your best.
As you watch Messi or LeBron, you begin to understand what’s possible.
Sure, I may not be able to pass the ball to my teenage son during the waning seconds of a playoff game, but I can pass the time with him as we both enjoy life. (As I write this, the two of us are enjoying an afternoon in a small Italian Piazza and I couldn’t be more grateful.)
Today’s training yields tomorrow’s successes—that should never be forgotten.
Of course, that training goes beyond the boardroom, beyond even the office or the golf course. It extends to our kitchens, our gyms, and even our doctor visits.
It’s not about spending money—it’s about taking advantage of the treatments that are available, the dietary plans, and advancements in science. These are here to keep us in the game longer, well past the expiration date of what was once thought possible.
When we see Messi, it’s impossible not to wish his example will rub off on us. But he shows us that it’s not just about staying in the game. It’s about being able to keep winning.
Indeed, it’s not just about living longer.
It’s about living longer well.
As a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, longtime Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated, and 13-time New York Times Best-Selling author, Don Yaeger is one of America’s most provocative thought leaders. From walking into Afghanistan with the Mujahadeen to living with football legend Walter Payton, Don has spent three decades embedded with the world’s greatest "Greats." Now a sought-after executive coach and host of the Corporate Competitor Podcast, he translates the lessons of sports and business legends into actionable strategies for building a culture of greatness.
