1 idol turned mentor: Aimar reflects on inspiring football's ultimate superstar

Few narratives in world football carry the emotional weight of a childhood hero watching his greatest admirer surpass every conceivable milestone. Pablo Aimar, the elegant playmaker who once captivated South America with his silk-like touch and visionary passing, now finds himself in the unique position of being worshipped by the very player widely regarded as the finest to ever kick a ball. Back in the mid-1990s, a young Lionel Messi would study Aimar's movements at River Plate, where the No.10 orchestrated attacks alongside Juan Pablo Angel and Javier Saviola. During that era, River Plate captured three league titles across the 1996-97, 1997-98, and 1999-2000 campaigns, with Aimar contributing 22 goals in 82 appearances for the club before his European move. His crowning achievement arrived at the 1997 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Malaysia, where Argentina conquered the tournament with Aimar pulling the strings from midfield across seven matches. The bond between these two Argentine icons has only deepened across the decades. They shared a national team dressing room during the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany, where Argentina reached the quarterfinals before falling to Germany on penalties, and again at the 2007 Copa America, where La Albiceleste finished as runners-up. Now working as an assistant coach under Lionel Scaloni, the 45-year-old Aimar carries the enormous responsibility of helping Argentina defend their World Cup crown. Argentina's current 36-match unbeaten streak across all competitions stands as a testament to the continuity and wisdom within the coaching staff. Aimar speaks with palpable emotion when discussing Messi's sustained brilliance, noting that the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has accumulated 798 career goals and 352 assists at club and international levels combined. The former Valencia star admitted that being named as Messi's idol remains a source of overwhelming pride that he struggles to put into words. For a man who once graced the grandest stages himself, watching his protege shatter records with 106 international goals for Argentina has been a journey of astonishment and deep personal satisfaction.