The secret Lionel Messi shares with LeBron James and Novak Djokovic to defy the passage of time

A t 38 years old, with two years of brilliance in the MLS and Inter Miami and two championships under his belt, Lionel Messi has renewed his contract with David Beckham's team until the end of the 2028 season, when he will be 41.

LeBron James , 40 , is in his 23rd season in the NBA playing for the Los Angeles Lakers (recovering from a problem with his sciatica), while Novak Djokovic has a 22-year career at 38 . What is the secret to their longevity?

Messi, LeBron, and Djokovic share the same vision

After renewing his contract with Inter Miami, the Argentine captain explained the real reason behind his decision in an interview with NBC News : " I've always said that I base my decision to continue playing on how I feel day to day, both physically and mentally. And the truth is that I felt really good this year. I feel happy ."

Along the same lines, Leo stated that his desire is to be present at the 2026 World Cup and defend the title won in Qatar in 2022 with the Argentina national team, but this will depend on his mental and physical condition.

" As you get older, you lose things you had when you were younger, like speed, quickness of reaction, seeing the game faster, and making decisions quickly ," Messi said in statements compiled by US Soccer Plus Global . " I continue to try to give my best, making the most of my physical abilities and my playing style. I've tried to adapt to the new circumstances ," he added.

This seems to be the key to his successful and extensive career: the flexibility to modify his playing style and a powerful mindset, something that LeBron James has also adopted .

" No matter what's going on with me personally as far as bumps and bruises and fatigue, whatever, my job is to go out and still perform at a high level ," King James said a couple of years ago on the subject.

And not far behind is the Serbian tennis player , who has prioritized his physical health, recognizing his limits and giving 100% in every competition that comes his way:

" As long as I have that feeling, really of that level is still alive, is still present, I feel like I want to keep going ," Djokovic revealed in a recent interview. " I want to keep pushing myself to see, you know, whether I can have a shot at another slam or, you know, any big tournaments ."

Without a doubt, the vision of continuing to compete as long as possible, as long as the body allows it and the team requires it, is something that all three legends share. Adaptability, flexibility, and an elite mindset, too.