There has been an intensity to Messi, these last few weeks, that has not always been apparent in the latter stages of his career. It was Messi, after all, who stood up on Argentina’s team bus after defeat to Saudi Arabia and asked his dejected teammates if they could trust each other. It was Messi who confronted the entire Netherlands coaching staff after Argentina had emerged victorious from an irascible, volatile quarterfinal. And it has, time and again, been Messi who has intervened in games to bend them to his will. Many of McBride’s students recalled fond memories from their time working with him, from his quick wit to his compassionate guidance.