24 Comments
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Binu Sivan's avatar

Uff! That last para was poetic!

And this sentence says so much - “Messi is playing his sixth World Cup, and perhaps, for the first time, with true freedom.”

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Binu!

Betina Cunado's avatar

Thank you for this post! I was born in the same city Messi was born. I know how we feel when he plays. I never imagined that in the other side of the world, someone would feel the same.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you so much for reading and engaging, Betina! Means a lot that someone who has seen him so closely would find my thoughts relatable. :)

H the 8th's avatar

Beautiful read

Amrita's avatar

Oooof what a fantastic piece. Loved every metaphor but especially the one about knowing it's going to rain by looking at the sky. Too good

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Amrita!

Aswin's avatar

Incredible piece ,your words are poetry in motion just like Leo!!!

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thanks for reading, Aswin!

Declan Fay's avatar

This is absolutely wonderful mate. Any piece of writing that quotes Roger Federer as a religious experience is alright by me. But it’s really beautiful that you’ve gleaned so much insight and poetry from following him in that one match. Makes me want to go back and watch the whole match again with this new understanding. Great stuff.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you so much for the kind words, Declan! Really was some performance by the great man.

And that Federer essay is so good I find it hard not to quote it from time to time haha.

Aditi Taswala's avatar

Superb writing Sarthak!

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Aditi!

Sophia Khan's avatar

Great read! Loved it

Joe John's avatar

Just loved reading this. Thank you

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you for reading!

Ashish Chatterjee's avatar

What a description!

Rachna Dhall-Haasnoot's avatar

I was saving this read for my Sunday morning coffee, coz I knew it would be something. Well done.

It reminded me of the last segment "Wonder" in the 2019 documentary "This is Football" (on prime) where Pep is describing exactly what you mentioned above from his pov. He watches, he waits, draws a mental map of whats going to happen next...just otherworldly.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Rachna! :)

I haven't watched This Is Football, will do!

Pritam Sukumar's avatar

Phew! What a read — amazing flow. Sarthak! The post comfortably tackles like Messi, around my usual lack of attention. Couldn’t stop reading!

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you so much, Pritam!