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An empty stadium under floodlights, seen from behind a goalpost. Confetti lies on the grass and one figure pushes a barrow across the far end.

What the highlights leave out.

Films on why a player mattered and why a rivalry never cooled. A new one every Sunday.

Talisman on YouTube

A highlight shows you what happened.

It can’t tell you why a player mattered or why a rivalry never cooled.

Talisman makes the films that can.

Lautaro Martinez with his arm around Messi, both seen from behind in Argentina stripes. Argentina v Egypt, 7 July 2026.

Messi Lost His Last World Cup Final. This Is His Whole Story

A napkin contract, four lost finals, a World Cup, and one last World Cup final in tears.

Publishes Sunday 1 November 2026, 3 PM UK. Running time 19:07.

Argentina v Egypt, 7 July 2026. Photo: Bryan Berlin / CC BY-SA 4.0

The film, chapter by chapter, each one as wide as its running time

  1. IntroIntro
  2. A house with shutters and an iron balcony under a hard blue sky, in the Rosario neighbourhood where Messi grew up.
    RosarioPhoto: TitiNicola / CC BY-SA 4.0Rosario
  3. A hand on an aeroplane window, with the wing and pink clouds outside.
    The NapkinThe Napkin
  4. A packed stadium at dusk, with long shadows on the pitch and pale flags in the far stand.
    The BreakthroughThe Breakthrough
  5. Messi in Barcelona colours chasing alongside a Juventus player, on open green. 2015 Champions League final, Berlin.
    The PeakPhoto: Biser Todorov / CC BY 3.0The Peak
  6. A pale blue and white striped shirt on a hook in an empty wood-panelled dressing room.
    The Weight of the ShirtThe Weight of the Shirt
  7. A worn suitcase, boots and packing boxes in a room with slatted sun on the floor.
    Goodbye, BarcelonaGoodbye, Barcelona
  8. Lusail Stadium, Qatar, from the air in daylight haze.
    Champion of the WorldPhoto: Djawed_vlog / CC BY 3.0Champion of the World
  9. MiamiMiami
  10. Messi seated on the grass, seen from behind and turning his head, in Argentina's 10 shirt.
    One Last DancePhoto: Bryan Berlin / CC BY-SA 4.0One Last Dance
  11. The Monumento a la Bandera, Rosario, at dawn, with its reflecting pool and an orange sky.
    LegacyPhoto: Scarabinol / CC BY-SA 4.0Legacy

  12. A Talisman film. Every fact cited, with the sources listed in the description.

    CreditsCredits

The week runs to Sunday.

New Shorts arrive daily, with face and kit puzzles and clips from the films.

  1. An iron gate and a painted post with a hand-painted 10.

    Mon Shorts

  2. A man and a small boy waiting on orange chairs in a pale green clinic corridor.

    Tue Shorts

  3. A huge street crowd at night, red flares and smoke between apartment blocks.

    Wed Football quiz
    3 PM UK

  4. An empty tennis court at night, with a house and two umbrella pines behind it.

    Thu Shorts

  5. Six boys in red and black kit, seen from behind, walking behind a ball.

    Fri Countdown
    3 PM UK

  6. Messi seen from behind in a shirt with a yellow 10.

    Sat Shorts

  7. Sunday A new film
    3 PM UK

Frames from the Messi film. Monday: Photo: TitiNicola / CC BY-SA 4.0. Saturday: Photo: Hugo Pérez Marsol / CC BY 2.0.

Two more films are made.

Neither has a release date.

The documentaries are the heart of this channel.

They cover players and rivalries. Each one is researched, and the sources are listed in the description.

Around them: a football quiz on Wednesdays and a countdown on Fridays. All at 3 PM UK.

Hear about new films by email.