Novak Djokovic had a dry response when told Lionel Messi had been instrumental in one of the great World Cup comebacks while the 24-time Grand Slam champion was on Centre Court. “It would be nice to play 90 minutes like him,” smiled Djokovic after the longest quarter-final match in Wimbledon history, which lasted five hours and 15 minutes against Felix Auger-Aliassime. For much of that epic encounter, Djokovic was constantly on the move.
Contrasts and Similarities
In Argentina’s dramatic win over Egypt, Messi carefully chose his moments to get involved – as he often does. But that is where the contrasts end. At 39, Djokovic and Messi are separated by just 33 days but are twinned by greatness, indefatigability, physical resilience, mental strength, and adaptability. Like basketball’s LeBron James and American football’s Tom Brady, they have found a way to maintain rarefied standards and have adapted to prolong their dominance.
Earlier at these Championships, Djokovic said: “I love watching greatness in the making and continuing the evolution of greatness, like Messi, like LeBron James. It’s amazing to see. I feel like we are all setting the bar higher and moving the needle of what people thought is possible in terms of level of competition and level of performance at a late age.”
Remarkable Longevity
What is remarkable is that people were saying the same thing about Messi and Djokovic three and four years ago – when Messi carried Argentina to World Cup glory in late 2022, and at the end of 2023 after Djokovic won three Grand Slams that year and was a beaten finalist at Wimbledon. Yet in 2026, both are still performing at a world-class standard. Messi made his competitive senior debut in 2004 for Barcelona in La Liga, the same year Djokovic played his first ATP Tour event at the Croatian Open. They are not rolling back the years because the years have never caught up with them.
Proving Themselves on the Grandest Stage
In the long run-up to the World Cup, there was some doubt about Messi’s involvement, but it should never have been in doubt. Messi likes nothing more than proving himself on the grandest stage. The same goes for Djokovic, who will face Jannik Sinner for a place in the final. The seven-time Wimbledon champion will be playing in his 55th Grand Slam semi-final, extending his all-time record. His all-time record of most Wimbledon singles match-wins now stands at 107. He is the oldest player to reach a men’s singles semi-final since Ken Rosewall made the last four in 1974.
Djokovic said: “Another great, historic run for me at the Grand Slams. This is what counts the most, honestly. I still try to prove to myself and to others that I am able to compete with the best players in the world and beat them on the biggest stage.” That is what Djokovic will have to do again if he is to win a record 25th Grand Slam title, and what Messi will have to do if he is to lead Argentina to more World Cup glory. Don’t put it past them.
Djokovic added: “Messi was born the same year I was born, ’87. It was a good year to be born.” It was indeed – a good year for tennis, a good year for football, a good year for sport.
