How far would Messi go

Millions in this world are a big fan of this man. Perhaps the hot and most sought after sports player of today in the world and most followed in social networking sites and highly viewed of his games. He has been winning a lot of trophies over the last decade and he’s considered as the best player in history to an extent that he’s been considered the best in this universe and few claims that he’s in fact alien and from another planet. Words can’t describe his success and the many trophies that he has won, be it the Champions leagues, Ballon d’ors, Golden shoes or the league titles – he has always been there in the winning ways right from the start of his career. In short, Lionel Messi is a phenomenon.

Brought up in the support of Ronaldinho and Pep Guardiola into the devastating Barcelona side, he has always been promising and delivering the needs of the club. He was a great passer of ball, dribbler and prolific goal scorer. He has been highly supported with goal scoring alongside Ronaldinho and Ibrahimović. Pep Guardiola saw Messi as a False 9 and has started to give him the best support after Ronaldinho and Ibrahimović gone to other clubs. He made Barcelona play a Messi centric game with the only intent of all other players to pass the ball to Messi so score. That being said, it is not always a plan to have the long ball passed to Messi but slowly using Barca’s ball passing tactics to move closer and closer the scoring spot and then passing to and fro to Messi.

Pedro, David Villa, Alexis Sanchez and Neymar - All had been told not to compete with Messi in goal scoring. All of these players complemented Messi and it paved the way for Barcelona being one of the best and tip clubs in Europe. In fact, Barcelona was the most feared club that any opponent would like to face in the last decade. The dominance of players like Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets - all at their prime and supportive to Messi in passing the ball in the midfield. Messi had the greatest midfielders of his time and it helped him score goals galore. But now has the time come to end the greatness in Messi that we had once saw and felt. With Xavi gone, the most vital player who made accurate passes to Messi, does it take away the greatness in Messi. Perhaps the answer would be “No” for now – because Barcelona has been finding players who would be the next front-runners in the next decade to support Messi.

Messi @ 30 would have few more years at Barcelona – perhaps another 6-7 years where they would be supported by Paulinho and Coutinho - Barca’s recent signings to replace Xavi and Fabregas. A lot depends on them in maintaining the Barca style of play by making the opposition surrender and dead with their endless passes. There is no question that Tiki-Taka is still the style making wonders for Barca and the players from their Academy are prone to that style but signings like Paulinho and Coutinho might take time to adapt to that style.  Time will only tell if the midfielders perform like Xavi and Iniesta – by finding Messi. With Neymar gone to prove himself outside - to become PSG’s Messi and Suarez being an aggressive player, time will only tell if Messi would do a 30+goals in La Liga every season from now.

Before the demise and before any downfall, we still have got a lot from Messi and his game – perhaps a few more Champions Leagues, La Ligas and may other trophies. However a Ballon d’or from now on would be an uphill task since players like Neymar, Harry Kane and other young lads too deserve the biggest prize in football. Until then we would have the Leo Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry on for a good time. Messi truly would go on to scale more heights with power packed Midfield that Barcelona currently has.