Apple TV's latest documentary Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend

Apple TV+'s Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend details the soccer fairytale that was Lionel Messi and Argentina's 2022 win. But it's also a stark reminder that the relationship between the player and the nation has not always been plain-sailing.

In December 2022, Messi led Argentina back to the summit of global soccer, toppling the only remaining possible criticism of his decorated career.

It filled the only empty space left in his trophy cabinet. It was the brightest jewel in the crown that proclaimed Messi the greatest of all time.

But Apple TV+'s latest documentary, Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend - a four-part series, which is released on February 21 - shows just how tough being the greatest actually is.

Yes, the documentary tells the tale of how Messi finally won the World Cup. But, through rare footage, interviews with a host of fans, journalists and analysts, including Gary Lineker , the series also captures the complicated relationship between Argentina and one of its greatest players.

His teammates set out with the goal of winning the World Cup for Messi. That much is made clear by Angel Di Maria, Emi Martinez and Rodrigo de Paul's worship of their talisman. But Messi was only ever doing it for one thing. Not his career. Not himself. Just Argentina.

Messi's love and dedication to his country is made clear throughout the series, even when it didn't love him back.

The meat of the first episode is dedicated to Messi's childhood when he left Argentina for Barcelona at age 13, arguably when the country first turned its back on him.

A familiar storyline to many soccer fans, but it sets the scene for significance of the tournament in Qatar - his last shot at the World Cup off the back of a glittering career. A