Lionel Messi: Destiny | Preview (BBC One)

How did Lionel Messi win the World Cup with Argentina and fulfil his destiny as the greatest player of all time? Aged 35 and at his fifth World Cup tournament, Qatar 2022 was Messi’s last chance to lift the only major trophy to have eluded him.

Captivating interviews with Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez lift the lid on what happened behind the scenes in Qatar and how the team was built around Messi to enable him to perform at his mesmerising best in the tournament’s key moments.

Revealing insight from Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister take viewers deep inside a camp where a new breed of youthful Argentine talent emerged and brought the best out of Messi.

Additional interviews with former players and journalists embedded in the Argentina squad, combined with rare behind-the-scenes footage, uncover the evolution of Messi from a shy and quiet goal scorer to an inspiring leader, whose transformation is brought to the fore during the volatile World Cup quarter-final against Netherlands.

This documentary relives Argentina’s rollercoaster tournament, which began with an embarrassing opening-game defeat to Saudi Arabia and ended with Martinez’s glorious penalty heroics in the final.

A captivating story, the key players peel back the layers on arguably the best World Cup final in history against France – a match which saw Messi lift the famous trophy and fulfil his destiny as the greatest player of all time.

Lionel Messi: Destiny airs Saturday 3rd June on BBC One.