Footballistiqs is happy to have you back. I'd like to congratulate Argentina on winning the 2022 World Cup. Lionel Messi now has another trophy in his trophy cabinet thanks to the victory. So, without further ado, let's begin.
Source - Instagram
Back in 2005, the stage was set for a 16- year long battle between 2 of the greatest players football has ever seen. We had Lionel Messi on one side, with the majority of his glory in Barcelona colors, and Cristiano Ronaldo on the other who rocked the goalscoring records in whichever club he played for. Ultimately, the battle had to come to an end and after winning the World Cup with Argentina, Messi came out victorious rightfully claiming his place as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT).
Source - Instagram
Lionel Andrés Messi also known as Leo Messi, is a world-class Argentine Football player who needs no introduction. One of the most well-known, adored, and decorated soccer players of all time. He is the all-time highest goalscoring South American player in history, has won the Ballon d'Or the most times (Seven), and leads La Liga goalscoring charts.
There is nothing more a human could possibly win in a career than what he has achieved in the world of football. We shall look into his achievements shortly.
Let’s start
Source - Goal.com
2022 was the first year that Lionel Messi has not been nominated for the Ballon D’Or since 2006, and it seemed as though he took that personally. He has already scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists for Paris Saint German (PSG) in the 22/23 season when compared to 11 goals and 14 assists during the entire 21/22 season. At age 35, he is by far exceeding expectations and proving to the world that there is only one GOAT.
Club Career
The first 17 years of Lionel Messi's club career were spent playing in La Liga, regarded as one of the best leagues in Europe and the top division of Spanish soccer. Messi has had the most success in La Liga overall, holding the league record for most goals scored with 474 and winning La Liga ten times.
He started as an attacking midfielder in Barcelona, the one to create and break the opposition’s defense with his insane dribbling and passing. His success was majorly dependent on 2 of the greatest Spanish midfield duos - Xavi, and Iniesta.
Messi made a name for himself as one of the top young players in the world between 2005 and 2008 adding two more La Liga titles during this period.
But 2009 was a different year, Barcelona accomplished the "sextuplet" for the first time in history that year, taking home six major championship medals, including Messi's fourth La Liga. They won the FIFA Club World Cup, the Supercopa de Espaa, and the UEFA Super Cup. That year, Messi won the Champions League for the second time scoring 9 goals. As a result, he became the youngest player to ever hold the top scorer title. With that, Messi won the Ballon d'Or for the first time in 2009 (the highest honor for an individual soccer player).
The year 2010 was no different, Barcelona won La Liga, the Champions League, and Supercopa de España, and Messi won his second Ballon d’Or.
Messi had a difficult 2011–2012 season because of injuries. Barcelona's performance dropped at this time. demonstrated how reliant Barcelona was on the great Argentine. When he returned from injury, Messi finished the Champions League as the top scorer for the fourth time, he is only the second person in history to do this.
Once the trio of Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi broke (2015 - Xavi left Barcelona) Messi had to orient himself to a new role at the club. He started playing as a Right-Winger. But this didn’t stop Messi from fulfilling his destiny. He won La Liga five more times and the Ballon d'Or three more times between 2012 and 2019. His achievements at Barcelona.
Source - Times of India
In 2021, Messi moved out of Barcelona and joined PSG. The first season at PSG was not great, he couldn’t show what he was made of or he couldn’t reflect the performances at his new club maybe because he took time to get settled after a 17-year career at Barcelona.
Despite his below-par performance, Messi still showed glimpses of his genius and skills by providing 14 assists in his first season at PSG. The Argentine failed to reach the Ballon D’Or shortlist along with his teammate Neymar after a dismal debut season at Ligue 1 club PSG following his departure from Barcelona.
Source - Starplayerstats
As you can see from the stat above, Messis had an all-time low in the number of goals scored in a season since 2007/08, the reason for this is that the PSG Coach ( Christophe Galtier) believes in player roles. Messi’s role at the new club is more of a creator rather than an attacker, hence the number of goals expected from him is far less than in his time at Barcelona.
So Yes, there is more to come from 'The little man', as he wishes to win the Champions League with PSG as well. And why couldn't he?
International Career
Source - InsideSport
Messi has 98 goals in 121 international games, making him the highest-scoring South American soccer player of all time. He succeeded Pele in the title in late 2021. He has been named the Argentinian player of the year 13 times.
Messi has achieved success with Argentina by winning the World Cup, finishing in second place, taking home the Golden Ball, winning an Olympic gold medal, and once winning the Copa America. In 2012, he was appointed team captain.
So, What makes Messi different from every player in the history of Football??
1. Progressive passes - one that moves the ball 10 yards (30 feet) closer to the goal than it's been recently, or any completed pass into the opponent's penalty area.
Messi is by far the greatest passer of the ball even beating the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Moving the ball forward and creating chances for others make Messi the king of Progressive Passing. What more do you want from your playmaker?
2. Assist King
Messi has been a creator ever since he set foot on the pitch, even more at PSG than at Barcelona. Due to his Progressive Passing, he has been providing assists to the likes of Neymar and Mbappe.
At PSG, He has been termed as an Unlocker (Unlock the defense) with his variety of crosses, forward passes, through-balls, and dribbles. His chance creation comes from the tensest area on a football pitch as depicted below and yet, Messi being Messi, he drives the ball through the defense either to score the goal himself or to provide an assist for another.
3. Ballon d’Or Record
Source - Aspor
Since 2008 the Ballon d’Or (previously FIFA’s player of the year award) has been won by either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi - with 2 exceptions (Modric, Benzema). Ronaldo has won the award 5 times and has been 2nd 6 times. However, Messi holds the record for most wins, he has won the award 7 times and come 2nd 5 times.
4. World Cup
Source - IndiaToday
The only achievement that singles out Messi in being the best player in the world is the World Cup. Yes, Cristiano Ronaldo shared the stage with Messi for over 16 years, and in 2022 Messi drove Argentina to win the most coveted prize in Football sealing the stamp of GOAT on the little Argentine.
Conclusion
Lucky were the ones who got to witness the greatest battle in football history between CR7 and LM10. Both players deserve respect and admiration, one being the greatest goalscorer of all time and the other being the greatest playmaker.
The 16- year long debate for the Greatest Footballer of all time has finally come to an end. Messi deserves to be a step ahead of the Portuguese legend (Cristiano Ronaldo). Both players have given their best to help their respective teams reach heights and fans on their toes.
CR7 fans don't have to feel bad as the only other player in comparison to Messi is Ronaldo. For that, we thank both the players for giving us what currently is the greatest battle of football history. We wish them all the best for their respective futures and of course hope Messi wins an 8th Ballon d'Or.
That’s all from Footballistiqs. Until next time. Ciao!!
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