Lionel Messi: Simply the Best
Just reading the title should excite a fan of international football, sending images of a short Argentinian winger dribbling through countless defenders or firing a shot through a crevice in the defense the size of a ball. In short, Messi is the best player in the world.
The 5’7″ man from Argentina was drawing comparisons to Diego Maradona before the 2006 World Cup, as a young player who could reshape the game. Not only is Maradona his Argentinian compatriot, but Messi has matched, if not bettered, two of Maradona’s most famous goals: “the Hand of God” and “the Goal of the Century” and seems to be set as one of the all-time greats despite being so young.
A Brief Bio:
Messi burst onto the scene after signing with Barcelona and breaking the record for youngest player to play in La Liga at 17 years, a record broken a few years later by teammate Bojan Krkic. Since then, Messi has become a prolific scorer, recently passing Rivaldo as Barcelona’s all-time scorer. He has played for his country, Argentina, since he was 18, participating in the 2006 World Cup and 2008 Olympics and will be part of the 2010 World Cup Squad.
Is he the best?
Two years ago, Manchester United won the English Treble, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring goals almost at will. With that said, Ronaldo seemed to sit atop the list with Messi not far behind. Last season, Messi closed that gap to a virtual tie. This season, no dispute, Messi is the greatest in the world. This isn’t a revelation of any sort, he’s been a fantastic scorer for years, but he’s matured into a more deadly player which seemed inconceivable considering the amount of prowess and skill he already possessed.
While Ronaldo broke the transfer record in his move to Real Madrid, he has been spotty all year, scoring in patches. He’ll hit a brace one day and not score for weeks. Messi has already 26 goals in 27 games including three hat tricks, the third being part of a four goal rampage against Arsenal; four goals in a four to one victory over a world-class opponent, unbelieveable. That gives new meaning to carrying a team, incredible. Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, recently stated, “At the moment I would say [Messi] is the best player in the world.”
Barcelona manager “Pep” Guardiola has recently stated that he’s running out of superlatives to describe Messi, and I couldn’t agree more. Messi is simply phenomenal, and that might not even do enough justice to how talented the young man is.
Why?
He scores goals left and right, beats practically every defender he challenges, and is an ambidextrous striker of the ball. He looks likes he’s blanketed by the defense, two, three, or four men; then the shot comes whizzing from the crowd into the corner of the net, brilliant. His nimble feet mezmerize and wrong foot defenders as he scurries by almost effortlessly; or one of Barca’s skilled midfielders play a ball through, Messi sprints past defenders and makes the keeper look like a novice. If soccer were a language, Messi would be one of the most fluent speakers. If soccer were music, Messi would be it’s Mozart.
Remember, he’s only 22.
I can’t imagine what’s still to come.
