If it's free kicks, scoops, one on ones, curlers, drives, dinks, one touch finishes, volley's, half volley's, penalty's, slide rule, lobs, outside of the foot, smashes, pokes, toes, laces or 'other' it's the diminutive Barcelona man that you want on the end of the ball. The only part of his game that is questionable is his heading, but he did help Barcelona beat Manchester United in the 2009 final with a great headed effort, so he can't be that bad! The only other question about him being the best all time (a title that Pele and Diego Maradona have unofficially 'shared' depending who you ask) is his international form and his ability to drive Argentina to World Cup glory as Maradona did in 1986 and Pele did for Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970 . If anyone can stop the Spanish, and his Barcelona team mates on the international stage it might be Messi. The 2014 World cup in Brazil could be the perfect stage for him to show the world he truly is the greatest player to ever kick a ball if he can lead his country to triumph. It's a big ask, but it's possible.The 24 year old may not even 'peak' for another couple of years, which is a frightening thought to all the defenders throughout the world, but even if he maintains and stays at the level he is, he will continue to embarress teams, win trophies and break records. His personal records are already phenomenal.
-Today he scored 5 (the most goals by one player ever in Champions League history) to see Barcelona through to the 1/4 finals against Bayer Leverkusen.
- He has scored 90 goals in his last 92 league appearences for Barcelona in La Liga.
(The list goes on and on and on and on and on, so here I've copied the main awards for individual brilliance and club success.)
FIFA Ballon d'Or: (2) 2010, 2011
Ballon d'Or: (1) 2009
FIFA World Player of the Year: (1) 2009
World Soccer Player of the Year: (2) 2009, 2011
World Soccer Young Player of the Year: (3) 2006, 2007, 2008
Barcelona
Copa del Rey (1): 2008–09; Runner-up 2010–11
UEFA Super Cup (2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011
And there's more, much more, but these are just some highlights. The backdrop to all these awards is what makes him the best ever for me. Messi has done this in an intensely professional, faster, stronger and more intelligent world of football than anyone before him. He has helped shape the modern game and reinvent the way scouts look at players, and how major clubs play their football. He is a new breed of player, incredibly skillful, perfect technically and laser fast. Gone are the days of big bruising lumps that hammer man and ball at any opportunity, because against someone like Messi they will get destroyed. The best way to stop Messi is to keep the ball away from him, but you'll have to be some team to do that against the pass masters Barcelona. He has helped Barcelona become identified as not only the best club team in the world (ever?) but also a brand, a brand of football unseen before in it's mesmerizing brilliance. Barcelona are now a trademark for the personal excellence he exudes.
It's an honor and a real treat to be able to watch a player of this brilliance play the style and quality of football he does week-in-week-out. I hope as many kids as possible watch and learn from him, because if there is ever anyone better than he, I won't know what to do with myself! So this is a thank you to Lionel Messi, thanks for showing me just how beautiful the 'beautiful game can be'.
'He's my Maradona' -El Diego
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