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Magnificent Messi has the World at His Feet

DUBAI - Lionel Messi may have scored a staggering 38 goals in the 2008-2009 season, but it seems, the winger has discovered his ‘real’ wings only this season.

The Argentine has simply been unstoppable. Ever since Pep Guardiola gave him the freedom to play a more central role for Barcelona, Messi has become a menace, scoring two hat-tricks in one week. The magician, who always plays with a smile on his face, has made some of the meanest defenders weep.

The Barcelona number 10 moves in mysterious ways and has put unanswerable questions in the rivals’ minds — Would he cut in from the right? Or would he dribble past their entire defence on the edge of the box? Maybe not, they must be thinking, as he might hit an exquisite free-kick. And what about their last line of defence, the goalie? Would he send the hapless chap the wrong way inside the box? No, maybe not as he might hit a long-range stunner. Or would he send a defence-splitting pass? Well, Messi has been doing all that and more as the tortured defenders are screaming in pain. What else can they do if one player alone starts showing the qualities of centre-forwards, withdrawn strikers, right-wingers and play-makers? Is he some superman?

Till recently the house was divided whenever the pundits were asked about the best player in the world. Some, inevitably, fell for the majestic Messi, while others preferred the ruthless Cristiano Ronaldo. But in the last few months, it seems, even the Ronaldo admirers have realized that the Argentine has found a level which the Portuguese could never match.

‘Better close control’

This reporter had the rare chance to speak to some of the former greats of the game who came to Dubai recently to play in the inaugural Emirates Dubai Football Sevens Legends Tournament.

John Collins, who played for Scottish giants Celtic in the 1990s, knows that there is really something magical about the 22-year-old from Rosario. Collins, whose stint as Television football expert allows him to watch football every week, came up with a simple answer when Khaleej Times asked him the million dollar question.

“Well, there are some great players in football now. I believe Wayne Rooney is probably among the top five in the world. But, to me, Messi is the number one. He is even better than Cristiano,” Collins, whose team – Celtic Legends – stunned the star-studded AC Milan in the final of the Legends Cup at the Dubai Sevens, remarked.

Collins says Messi has one special ability which really sets him apart from Ronaldo. “Well, see, both are fantastic players. They are attacking players with lot of skills and dribbling ability. But I think Messi has got little bit more……” Collins paused for a moment and then found the right words: “Close control, you know. He has better close control…” It was as if one of those mesmerizing, unstoppable Messi runs (with the ball glued to his feet) were still coming to his mind!

“He can beat players in smaller areas; he can beat players very easily,” Collins, who played an impressive 58 matches for Scotland, said about Messi’s ability to create something out of nothing.

The Barcelona winger, in recent times, has not only made defenders tackle his shadow, but he has also left football experts speechless.

The Al Jazira Sports Channel commentator, Sid Lowe, was spellbound by Messi’s first goal against Valencia last week. He allowed the pictures to speak when they were showing it again in slow motion how Messi dribbled past two defenders with complete nonchalance on the edge of the box and beat another inside (all with that magical left-foot) before scoring with a sublime finish. It was a surreal moment that quenched the thirst of many a football romantic.

Despite his brilliance, Ronaldo is incapable of giving such jaw-dropping moments. Collins admits. “Ronaldo too is a great player. But he needs more space. He uses his pace. But he lacks Messi’s ability; he needs more space, you know….”

Real worries

While Ronaldo’s goal failed to save Real Madrid against an inspired Lyon in the Champions League, Messi has given Barcelona fans hopes of more European glory. The Argentine was inspirational against Stuttgart, scoring two wonderful solo goals and showing unbelievable vision to create another.

The final will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu and Madrid fans are already worried about facing the ultimate humiliation. After spending millions on the new ‘galacticos’, they might have to see a Messi-inspired Barcelona, their eternal rivals, lift the coveted trophy on their very own turf!

And Collins believes that Barcelona are indeed the team to beat in Europe.

“I have seen all the teams this year. And I still think that Barcelona are the favourites. Yeah, there are a lot of good teams. Manchester United are strong, Arsenal played very well against Porto. Then you have Inter. Mourinho’s teams are always well organized. But I still think that Barcelona are the team to beat.”

It’s not surprising that fans of the other giants have already started moaning. They feel a little Argentine gives Barcelona an unfair advantage! Ask the Real Zaragoza fans and they will tell you how you feel when an opponent takes the ball away from you on the half-line, and then dribbles past an entire defence and scores from the box. Now even the die-hard Gunners know that only a miracle can save them from the pain of a knock-out blow.