10 - Lionel Messi - v3

[linetty]

Schweinsteiger: "Doesn't matter what they say about Leo, the people that love football know he is and always will be the best."

 

[aki13]

The great paradox that will unfairly define Lionel Messi
by Jen Evelyn | Posted on Monday, July 14th, 2014


Lionel Messi’s Argentina came closer to a World Cup title on Sunday than they have been in the last 24 years. The only minutes they were behind in the tournament were the seven minutes after Mario Götze’s goal at extra time, in the final. The sight of Messi walking past the World Cup trophy with an empty glare in his eyes will stay in the collective memory of the world of football, and paradoxically, unfairly, define him.


Messi didn’t win on Sunday, and the feel remains that he can’t ever really win anyway. In the World Cup, he didn’t fight against any player of his time, not against any team. He fought against a myth.


That myth is the great paradox that could end up defining Messi. That myth is called Diego Maradona. With a win in the World Cup, many would have been ready to put Messi to where Maradona is – to the cloud of immortality that time has sweetened.


But the reality is that Messi should be there with or without a World Cup. The reason he isn’t, is because the myth he was supposed to match was not of this World.


When you think of Maradona, you think of his goal against England. You think of the images of him lifting the World Cup. Even if you never lived in his era, that’s what the world around you has fed you. The idea of a perfect player who won on his own. The idea of the mythical God-figure who never failed. A bit of a rough-edged footballing rockstar who was forgiven for all his flaws because he was and is Maradona.


That’s because when we think of Maradona, or Pelé for the matter, we see the icing on the cake, not the entire cake itself. We see the documentaries and highlight-reels of their greatest matches, their greatest goals. We don’t see their failures. Their matches aren’t on the Internet, maybe except for the greatest ones. The historical ones. From Messi, we see everything.


In the last years it’s been easier to get bored of Messi’s brilliance because it’s fed to us in larger doses. It’s been fed to us every weekend, and after that, we’ve been able to go back for more, see it all again on the web. With no more than a click.


The bad matches are within that click too. The bad matches that Diego Maradona and Pelé played, too, but that the legend doesn’t remember. How many, in the modern day, can say that they saw Maradona as much as they see Messi now? Every weekend, with his club, with his country, throughout the year? Would the legend be different if Maradona lived in Messi’s era? Would the collective memory trace of his career be different, if it contained every single match? Was he ever – as great as his peak was – ever as consistently mind-blowing as Messi at his best has been?


And that’s the great paradox of Messi that he will never overcome. We see more of him. We see all of him. All of his goals, all of his solo-goals, all of his countless moments of genius. From Barcelona, and yes, from the international matches too. Because of that, he should be the most celebrated footballer of our time. Those moments – one could argue – put him on par with the corresponding moments of Maradona. I would go as far as saying that Messi has more of those moments than Maradona.


But still, in the day and age when we see every single match Messi plays, when we can celebrate his moments of heavenly brilliance over and over again, the collective will judge him by the seven games he played in Brazil. More radically, by the final he played in Rio De Janeiro. The final he lost.


Messi is in a place that none of us can really imagine. The media is on his skin like the defender that man-marks him and kicks him a bit too hard, just to kick him again because the man refuses to fall down. Perhaps the greatest and most radical example of the myth is that Messi has faced enormous criticism because he doesn’t run as much as the rest on the pitch. Maradona, on the other hand, used cocaine, and at the end of his career, had quite a belly to show for a wild lifestyle. That only made his legend stronger.


That’s why Messi is the most criticized player that has ever touched a football. It doesn’t matter what he does, there’s always a but. Even when he lead his team to the final, there was the “yeah, but”. “He didn’t score in the knockout matches”. As if the collective was already preparing an excuse in case he happened to win. There would still have been a “yeah, but”.


And when you look at what Messi has achieved whilst being the most criticized player in the world, it’s mind-boggling. Six La Ligas, three Champions Leagues, two Club World Cups, Olympic Gold, Under-20 World Cup, four Ballons d’Or, three European Golden Shoes. Add to that the goalscoring records, the amount of assists, and he’s achieved more than anyone, except for the one thing that will forever define him: the World Cup.


The seven games in the midst of hundreds will define him.


When he hangs up his boots one day, or maybe only decades later, we’ll really understand. We’ll live decades, realizing that no one quite matches what he did. Then we’ll look at the Youtube clips and documentaries made of him, and say “goodness, he was amazing. He scored more than anyone. He won more than anyone.” And maybe then the collective will realize that they won’t see a greater player in their lifetime.


For what he has done in an era that is organized, largely defensive and more tactical than perhaps in the decades before, Messi is quite possibly the greatest player of all times. But because he failed to replicate a myth, he might never get the place in history that he deserves. And that’s simply unfair, but shouldn’t stop us from celebrating his greatness today.


By Jen Evelyn – Follow @JenFCB


Great text, and so true.

Wow, that bought tears to my eyes.

It has actually changed my outlook on the situation. I believe he is emotionally and physically empty and whatever happens this text holds true.

Brilliant find Flavia thank you.

Barca must give Leo all the support, love and help he needs to get his fitness and health back.

Also all Barca and football fans should show Leo the appreciation and support he deserves.

Vamos Leo

 

[Mitchell1978]

I'm gutted for Leo. I have no shame in admitting I became I barca fan because of Messi. I lost interest in football between 2005-2008, then I discovered Messi and truly fell in love with the game. The way he played the game was like nothing I had ever seen before and from there I fell in love with Barca... however as much as I admire him I will admit the Messi we saw at this World Cup was suffering severe fitness issues and its a shame we didn't see him at his peak physical condition.

He had a good world cup, did he deserve the golden ball? Maybe not, but then did Robben or Rodriguez play in the final? no!

More importantly does Messi care for the golden ball? No! its scant consolation for him.

All I can say about Leo is that he's the best player of his generation and he has nothing to prove to anyone, his club career is better than Maradona and he's easily the best player iv'e ever seen. It wasn't meant to be in Brazil and I hope he comes back stronger than ever... if he doesn't then I can live happily knowing iv'e witnessed one of the greatest footballers of all time.

As for the haters on the forum and elsewhere..all I can say is i'm genuinely sorry you missed out on appreciating the best player of your generation, you will look back in 20 years time and feel foolish, even more you will regret your bitterness and jealousy towards Leo.

Here's to a great season:beer2:

well spoken!

 

[KhaledBarca]

Yeah if you search on google there are thousands of quotes from past and present players, managers and other people in the sporting world declaring Messi to be the best ever or else up there near the top. His legacy is already secure but the World Cup would have been a nice cherry on the top.

2018
Maybe the best thing that happened to Messi so far is losing the WC final! If he won it, he would have won everything and maybe affect him negatively. Now, he still wants the World Cup, he wants to win major trophies with Argentina Copa Ameria, Confederation, World Cup...! We might see the best of Messi in the coming 4 seasons. After all, he just turned 27 and most players peak at this age!

Visca Barcelona Visca Messi!

 

[linetty]

 

[messi2140]

I think ignoring the football sites and other sites for a couple of days is the best course of action . Because the things I am reading are ridiculous.

Benzema deserved the golden more than messi. He was invincible the WC.
Those litte yetties just came crawling out of their caves the moment he lost in a close match that could have gone either way. Its just sad reading all that stuff.

 

[Daemul]

Shit man! This is too depressing, didn't wen't at work today. Was just laying on the bed and thinking about Leo, whole day long. Football sometimes gives a lot of pain.

Dude, really? Come on now.

 

[Paganinisrvnge]

It would be a huge slap to the haters if Messi wins a Champions League with this new look Barcelona team. People have been wanting him to prove himself with a different set of teammates. Here's his chance.

 

[Rahj]

Schweinsteiger: "Doesn't matter what they say about Leo, the people that love football know he is and always will be the best."

one voice of reason in these hours of idiocy.

 

[Flavia]

I don't even understand why Messi still has to prove himself. If he was english, the english media would label him the greatest ever, no doubt. Or brazilian.
Yeah, he didn't get the wc yesterday, but he is still the best ever, regardless. No other player did what he has done all these years.
Maradona had his peak in 86-87. Had this wc been in 2012 things would be so different. Luck plays too big of a part for this be so relevant as some want to(epsecially the old brigade, as it seems), when determining how good a player is.

 

[xavi_the_Boss]

Dude, really? Come on now.

I was also depressed.Not because Messi didn´t win though.

 

[linetty]

For me Messi is the best ever, I don't care what others say.

 

[Adversus]

"When you think of Maradona, you think of his goal against England. You think of the images of him lifting the World Cup. Even if you never lived in his era, that’s what the world around you has fed you. The idea of a perfect player who won on his own. The idea of the mythical God-figure who never failed. A bit of a rough-edged footballing rockstar who was forgiven for all his flaws because he was and is Maradona."

I lived though that era and Maradona won the world cup on his own with a much weaker side than this current Argentina side.

He was better than Messi and it is at the world cup where great players are defined. No-one puts Cruyff up there with Pele, Maradona or Zidane for that reason as well.

Maybe if Messi had of been playing in the world cup a couple of years ago when he was at his peak things might have been different but honestly I don't think so. Maradona was just better.

 

[Kohe321]

This deserves another bump!

 

[DonAndres]

"When you think of Maradona, you think of his goal against England. You think of the images of him lifting the World Cup. Even if you never lived in his era, that’s what the world around you has fed you. The idea of a perfect player who won on his own. The idea of the mythical God-figure who never failed. A bit of a rough-edged footballing rockstar who was forgiven for all his flaws because he was and is Maradona."

I lived though that era and Maradona won the world cup on his own with a much weaker side than this current Argentina side.

He was better than Messi and it is at the world cup where great players are defined. No-one puts Cruyff up there with Pele, Maradona or Zidane for that reason as well.

Maybe if Messi had of been playing in the world cup a couple of years ago when he was at his peak things might have been different but honestly I don't think so. Maradona was just better.

People can have their reasons for thinking Maradona is better but to say the difference is because of the World Cup is an opinion born of propoganda if I've ever seen one. Pele and Zidane on the other hand I find overrated. R9 deserves a spot in the top 3 or 5 soooo much more than those two.