In a detailed account shared with The Athletic, Julian Gressel, who played alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami during the 2024 season, provides a rare glimpse into the mental machinery of one of football's greatest players. Now playing for Minnesota United, Gressel describes a level of preparation and spatial awareness that defies conventional training norms.

The 'Switch' and Mental Focus

Gressel highlights Messi's paradoxical approach to training. While most elite athletes maintain a rigid, high-intensity focus during practice, Messi often appears completely disengaged, only to deliver a moment of absolute perfection.

Recalling a specific training session on goal kick build-outs, Gressel notes that Messi was standing on the touchline chatting with an assistant coach while the play was developing.

"We broke the pressure, and by that time he had walked inside the pitch to the perfect spot. We gave him the ball, and he played a perfect — absolutely perfect — through ball to the striker who was one-on-one on goal,"

Gressel recalled.

"That’s Messi: The play starts and it seems like he’s not engaged whatsoever. But he is."

Competition and Camaraderie

The relaxed atmosphere extends to Messi's interactions with his peers. Gressel describes how Messi would joke and laugh with fellow veterans like Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, and Jordi Alba during warmups, creating an impression of total nonchalance.

However, this playfulness is merely a facade that can be discarded in a split second. Gressel describes this transition as a "snap of a finger," where Messi shifts from "s–ts and giggles" to a fierce competitive mode. This was most evident in small-sided games where Messi often served as the neutral player.

According to Gressel, Messi would use his influence to keep games competitive. If one team fell behind, he would "turn it on" to level the score, ensuring there was a genuine contest until the end. Gressel notes that this reveals Messi's deep-seated desire to win:

"It revealed just how great he is. How much he wants to win. How much he cares."

A Game Played in Slow Motion

The ability to oscillate between relaxation and peak performance is a testament to Messi's mastery of the game. Gressel observes that for Messi, the game simply moves slower, allowing him to scan the field and move into position with a level of ease that other players cannot replicate.

Whether it was flipping a switch after missing a shot in a drill or walking the pitch during a high-stakes match, Gressel concludes that Messi's mental capacity to control his engagement is "second to none" and "stunning to witness every day."