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Things have got just a little bit Messi
Has the ‘best player in the world’ debate been put to bed? Has Lionel Messi finally proved that of this moment, and for foreseeable future, that he is the greatest talent currently playing the beautiful game? At times, his play astounds the average observer. Last night, his play astounded the world.
Arsene Wenger, the manager that had just witnessed his side being brutally knocked out of the Champions League by one man, a notorious stickler for skill and technical ability, said of Messi after last night’s game: "For me, he is the best player in the world by a distance.” It is hard to disagree. After a setback through Nicklas Bendtner’s goal in the 19th minute, Barcelona needed someone to spark their concise and thoughtful possession to life. Cue one Lionel Andrés Messi. The diminutive Argentine's 21st, 37th, 42nd and 88th minute goals sufficed in showing the world that Barcelona are still the best team in Europe and he is an unparalleled genius. Surrounded by players of talent, but talent on a different scale, Messi is in the perfect place to become the greatest player to have ever played the game. Apart from playing on some existential, imaginary fantasy computer game in which players from the past have been magically re created, we will never be able to definitively compare the greatest players from each era. It will all be conjecture, one person will say that it was Pele, one will say it was Messi. If he was at Burnley, with all due respect, he would not be touted as the best player in the world. At Barca, under the tutelage of ‘Pep’ Guardiola, and with Xavi et al by his side, Messi seems destined for legend status.
In recent weeks, the debate, sometimes interminable, over who is the best in world (Messi vs. Wayne Rooney) has rumbled on. Rooney has his merits and is capable of match defining performances but somehow, in the hearts of all those that witnessed Messi’s display, it was as if no other man on earth could do what Messi does with a football. The statistics between the two are comparable and it is undeniable that Wayne has been one of the best players in the world, but Messi is something completely different. It is an injustice to both men to even compare them. Wayne is England’s best player and one of, if not the, best striker in the world. Quite what Lionel Messi is unknown.
He is a footballing entity. He is a footballing institution. For years to come, he will be mentioned in the same breath as the greats such as Zico, Cruyff, and Stefano to name but a few. Without divulging in sentiment and greed, we are extremely lucky to witness a player that is capable of amazing feats. We are extremely lucky to watch a man that can score 41 goals in a season (that still has some travel left) and still have ambitions. Messi has achieved a lot for a man of such an age. At only 22, he has already won: 3 La Liga’s, 1 Spanish Cup, 3 Spanish super cups, 2 Champions League’s, 1 Super Cup and 1 Club World Championship. For Argentina, he has won an Olympic gold.
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