Lionel Messi is the greatest soccer player to ever live. I know all the Cristiano Ronaldo fans will be immediately turned off by this statement. But rest assured, what I’m about to write holds true for Ronaldo too. All the same lessons apply.

In many ways, the likes of Messi have been afforded the ability to have those stellar reputations and make all of their magic happen in the most meaningful, trophy-winning ways, because of something you might not have ever considered.

Here’s the thing: Lionel Messi knows exactly when to conserve his energy, and when to work his magic. He knows how to do this better than anyone else. It’s why he’s made it through a fascinatingly long career without ever succumbing to long-term injury. It’s why he won Argentina the World Cup back in 2022. It’s why he’s turned Inter Miami from the laughing stock of the MLS into one of the league’s top sides. Put simply, Lionel Messi knows when to act, and when to observe.

For starters, the Miami man walks more than any other player on the pitch. He walks more than he runs. And as he walks around, he observes. He observes the opposition. Their shapes and structures. Their opportunities for exploitation. The strengths and weaknesses of those closely following his path. As defenders watch his every move, he’s subtly reading them like a book. Waiting for his moment to pounce.

He takes in all the information that he can, so that when he gets the ball to his feet, he’s already ten steps ahead of the opposition. He already knows exactly what spaces to adopt when possession changes hands, and exactly how he’s going to work his twinkle toe magic.

This is the Lionel Messi effect. It’s the difference of knowing when to exert energy – whether that be physical or mental; and when to push hard to get stuff done and make things happen.

Sometimes, I wish I could be more like Messi. Not in the soccer sense. I like my life. But in the sense of his composure. Messi scans his surroundings constantly, takes in information, and then acts. When he’s on the ball, he makes those moments count better than anyone else; often times as a direct result of the information he’s gathered.

In some ways, he’s been afforded the ability to adopt this playing style from coaches and managers that recognize his power. They deserve some credit here too. But above everything else, including his fancy-dance twinkle toes and silky smooth moves, this is what separates Messi from the other 99%. He doesn’t try to do everything at all times to get his team the win. In fact, he exerts significantly less energy than his teammates. In doing so, he makes every meaningful moment count so much more.

It’s a valuable lesson in not only observing and remaining patient for the moment to strike; but also in conserving energy toward what is most important. For Messi, that’s when the ball finds its way to his feet, and he can work his wonders in scoring and assisting goals.

But what about you?

What are you currently focusing your energy and attention toward, when you might be better off saving that energy for something else? Are you acting impulsively and irrationally without fully thinking things through? Or are you taking in all the information you can, and then acting accordingly. Sometimes acting with haste is necessary. Other times, remaining cool as a cucumber is more appropriate for growing your garden. The subtle art of observation is a useful skill that we can all learn in being more like the world’s greatest athletes – some of the most successful people to ever live.

So next time you get the urge to act without thinking, and you have time to think things through, stay patient. Take in as much information as you can. Walk. Observe. Then make every moment count once you have all the information. Save your energy for what is truly important. You’ll enjoy a longer-lasting career that way, and live a more meaningful life.

Thanks for reading and see you soon.