Last Saturday we had the joy of witnessing Lionel Messi at the peak of his powers once more as he singlehandedly beat four Athletic Bilbao players before he slotted the ball into the back of the net. Messi showed us his dazzling feet, his shoulder drops and finally his clinical finishing. Messi is back alright but this time he can be even better.
When Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon D’or in January Messi along with Manuel Neuer was a gracious loser, but deep down this loss to his biggest rival reignited his engine and his desire to win. Losing the league on the final day, losing the Copa Del Ray final and the World Cup final in one year had affected the Argentinian genius. He was still above most other players but he simply wasn’t at his usual standard up to Christmas. When he returned late to Barcelona from the Christmas break along with Neymar, Coach Luis Enrique decided to take a bold move and drop the two superstars. The result was a shock 1-0 loss away from home to David Moyes’s Real Sociedad. Messi was not happy. He missed the open training session the following day something he always made sure he was at. The club was in crisis- Enrique’s job was on the line rumours of Messi leaving circulated and director of football Andoni Zubizarreta was sacked. But out of this crisis Barca rose like a phoenix. The loss of the Ballon D’or, as I have mentioned, kick-started Lionel Messi. He took on a role of leading the team. Messi is no longer the only goal scorer in Barcelona they now have argubally the best attacking trio world football has ever seen. Messi now has Brazilian superstar Neymar to his left and in the centre Luis Suarez goal poacher extradionare. Against Eibar Messi nearly repeated history when he took on most of the Eibar team, running at them the ball almost superglued to his feet. A goal didn’t come out of this play but it was a statement of intent
Messi has broken so many records now it is hard to count. Top goalscorer in La Liga and in The Champions league, mosts assists in La Liga most dribbles completed in Europe the list goes on. Often people criticise these starts saying Spanish teams aren’t as strong as those in England or other leagues. So to show once more the powers he possess Messi put on a masterclass in the Champions League Semi-final against Bayern Munich – a team tipped to win the trophy. In the space of seventeen minutes he took the German champions managed by the infamous Pep Guardiola apart. The first goal was superb he beat Manuel Neurer, a goalkeeper regarded by many as the best in the world, at his near post with a shot driven low and hard into the bottom corner. Then three minutes later Lionel Messi scored a goal that will live long in the memory of football fans around the world. He humiliated World Cup winners Jerome Boating and Manuel Neuer once again. He had the ball on his favourite left foot but unexpectedly moved it onto his weaker right this bamboozled Boating who collapsed to the ground his ankles ‘broken’ by the magician. He then did the unthinkable and chipped the best goalkeeper in the world with his right foot. The Camp Nou erupted; Messi’s return to the top had been announced on the biggest stage in European football. Then in the 92nd minute just when Bayern fans thought their night couldn’t get any worse Messi played an inch perfect pass into the path of Neymar who finished the move in style placing the ball into Neuer’s net.
Messi then arrived when Barcelona needed him in La Liga. A win against reigning champions Atletico Madrid away from home would see the title go to Catalonia. Word came through that Real Madrid were winning this would stop Barca taking the title. With the scores level at nil all Messi stepped up. The move contained such precise and intricate passes that it can only be appreciated in slow motion. Messi passed the ball past Jan Oblak in the Atletico goal and Barcelona were once more champions of Spain. When the Barcelona fans flooded The Ramblas that evening to celebrate their teams’ success one player received special praise. The chants of ‘Messi,Messi Mess’ show just how important this player is to Barcelona.
Lionel Messi is hungry for success and he is one trophy away from the treble, the second of his career. With the Argentinian magician once more at the peak of his powers any team that has to face him should be afraid, very afraid.