Parque Las Heras

The second one arrives in Argentina you are bombarded with the image or name of Leo Messi everywhere you look. It's on ads for Pepsi, Adidas, Budweiser and Lay's. The majority of the soccer jerseys that are a part of every Argentine's wardrobe sport the number 10 and the Messi name.

Normally, I'm not a huge football fan, but I have always enjoyed watching the World Cup. As such, until this year, I couldn't even have told you which team Messi plays for on a regular basis (Paris St-Germain).

Over the last few weeks, however, I've enjoyed watching Messi perform in the three Group-round games, the group of sixteen round, the quarter-finals and now the semi-finals. He is clearly the engine that drives this Argentine team and appears to be nothing but a class act, both on and off the field.

Any time the hockey heroes I've watched over the years, Richard, Beliveau, Lafleur, Hull, Howe, Gretzky, Crosby, would touch the puck, the crowd would rise to their feet and cheer, knowing that something magical could happen at any moment.

And such is the case with Leo Messi. He is magical. His handling of the ball would have one believe that he has a powerful leather magnet in his cleats that ensures he'll keep possession of the ball. The work he did on Argentina's third goal against Croatia in the semi-final game was a thing of beauty.

Is he the greatest of all time? I don't know, but he's the greatest footballer I've ever had the pleasure of watching.Read more