Messi was on the soccer scoreboards in Barcelona last season no less than 43 times, as the Argentinean genius spent the season scoring goals for fun. In one three game stretch, he scored 10 goals, and it was not only the quantity of goals he scored, but the quality of goals too that amazed. On top of that, the number of assists from him last season was incredible. Undoubtedly, he is helped by the fantastic players around him, such as Iniesta and Xavi, who read his game perfectly and are able to play his little one-twos to devastating effect. This, however, should not take away from the individual achievements of this prodigious talent.
Lionel Messi is now regarded by most pundits as the best soccer player in the world. He is just 22, but has won practically everything that there is to win individually and in club soccer. The only gap in his trophy cabinet is international honours, apart from an Olympic gold medal won with Argentina in 2008.
Messi’s unique style of play relies on his unpredictability and swiftness of movement, and his magnificent control of the ball even at high speed. He is a technical genius, and his low center of gravity and incredible turn of pace can destroy any defensive line. Time after time, he conjures up something out of nothing.
He is only 5 foot 7, but he is a good header and scores many goals with his head. Whilst he is exemplary for his club Barcelona, the only negative in his career so far is that he has not been so dominant for Argentina. Many people blame this on the Argentina manager Diego Maradona, who has consistently refused to play him in his preferred position at right wing. Instead, Maradona has had him play as a deep central striker.
Last season the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger heaped praise on Messi, and called him “the best player in the world” after he ripped Arsenal apart in the Champions league quarter final.
After his performance against Arsenal, the club’s president, Joan Laporta, officially announced that he is the best player that he has ever seen grace the field.
England’s star sticker Wayne Rooney also stated that he believes that Messi is the best in the business. “He can do amazing things with the ball, and he scores an incredible amount of goals.”
The coach of Barcelona, Pep Guardiola, claims that he cannot find enough superlatives to describe his star player. “It is amazing that he is capable of doing what he does at such a young age. It almost defies belief.”
This was after Messi scored three goals against Real Zaragoza, and the soccer scoreboards showed that he had scored his third hat-trick in as many games.
If he plays in the 2010-2011 season like he did last season, the title of ‘best player ever’ will undoubtedly soon be his!