Lionel Messi and the immigrant experience

The Last Cup, NPR's bilingual podcast, is much more than a sports story.

Will this be Messi’s year? With two wins under their belt following a major upset against Saudi Arabia, Argentina might still have a shot at winning the World Cup. Of course this prospect means a lot to anyone playing or rooting for Argentina. But there’s one player in particular for whom this would mean everything: soccer legend Lionel Messi.  Not only is this his last chance to bring home the coveted World Cup trophy – it’s his last chance to win the respect of the country he left at age 13. In the The Last Cup, a new bilingual podcast series from NPR and Futuro Studios, Argentine journalist Jasmine Garsd explores why. Over five episodes, Jasmine traces Messi’s journey emigrating from Argentina to Spain and parallels it with her own path resettling in the U.S. She uses both their stories to understand the cost of leaving home – and the struggle to return. The first four episodes of the podcast are available to binge in both English and Spanish. Here’s a taste of what you can expect in each: Part 1: From the time Messi started rising up the ranks of the famed Barça football club in Spain, he’s always dreamed of winning a World Cup for his home country. But playing with Argentina’s national team has proven to be his biggest challenge. LISTEN TO PART 1 ESCUCHA EPISODIO 1 Part 2: Jasmine follows the journey of a gifted kid who would go on to become one of the best. She looks at the ripple effects of Argentina's devastating economic crisis of 2001, how it shaped Messi's path, and what it meant for her own life. LISTEN TO PART 2 ESCUCHA EPISODIO 2 Part 3: Messi finally gets a chance to put on Argentina's national jersey, but it’s clear his time abroad has fundamentally changed the way he plays. And when Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona becomes coach of Messi's 2010 World Cup team, it puts Messi under increased scrutiny. LISTEN TO PART 3 ESCUCHA EPISODIO 3 Part 4: With the disappointment of the 2010 World Cup behind them, Messi is prepared to bring home a different copa – the 2011 Copa America. Meanwhile, Jasmine makes the long journey back to Argentina after many years away and faces an unexpected tragedy. LISTEN TO PART 4 ESCUCHA EPISODIO 4 Part 5 premieres tomorrow and a bonus episode drops next Thursday. Follow Messi’s rise to soccer stardom and understand why this Cup, his last Cup, is the one with so much on the line. LISTEN ESCUCHA You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy