Guillem Balagué talks to Derek Holmes

Well-known sports journalist and biographer of the world’s football greats Guillem Balagué explores the unique characteristics that have made Messi the greatest footballer in the history of the sport.

Balagué had unprecedented access to Messi’s inner circle and the player himself for Messi: The Definitive Biography. He has updated the book to include Argentina’s Messi-inspired triumph in the 2022 World Cup, the trophy that was seen as the final achievement in a glittering career that saw Messi win every major club trophy in Spain and every major trophy on the international stage. Yet, despite that, Messi continues to achieve after moving to Inter Miami in the United States. Balagué traces Messi’s origins in Rosario, Argentina, and asks how a precocious talent turned into the greatest player in the history of football.

Balagué is a Spanish sports journalist who writes for English and Spanish newspapers and is well known for his broadcast work on Sky Sports and the BBC. He is also a licensed football coach and chairman of Biggleswade United Football Club. His other books include Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning: The Biography and Cristiano Ronaldo: The Biography. Here he talks to journalist Derek Holmes, content editor for the festival and a former editor of The Oxford Times.