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Why IMO we will never see a player like Messi again?
Just to make it clear, this thread is not about proving why Leo is the GOAT, it's just about that we will probably never see a player like him again.
To start with, Leo was exceptional talent from the very beginning.
Just to make it clear, this thread is not about proving why Leo is the GOAT, it's just about that we will probably never see a player like him again.
To start with, Leo was exceptional talent from the very beginning.
Even from his childhood when he was still in Argentina playing for Newell's youth team. Even as a child, it was evident that Leo was special; dribbling past players like they were nothing. And his growth as a player in Barcelona was similar.
*Barcelona youth team
He was a devastating winger who could take on any anything in his way. Some of his goals clearly justify that, most notably that goal against Getafe. And I believe that one was the best goal scored in this century so far and it would have been that way, had
He was a devastating winger who could take on any anything in his way. Some of his goals clearly justify that, most notably that goal against Getafe. And I believe that one was the best goal scored in this century so far and it would have been that way, had
Any other player other than Leo scored that. In that regard, I believe Leo is underappreciated. At the beginning, he was much more of a winger who could take on defenders with ease and make chances for his teammates until Pep came over.
That was a turning point in his career. Having Pep as a mentor completely changed him as a player. Not just an insane dribbler, he turned himself into one of the most prolific goalscorers football has ever seen. His 2011-12 season is evident of that when he scored 50 goals
In the league (still a record) and 14 goals in UCL (record back then). He continued that throughout the year and scored 91 in a year, leaving greats like Pele and Muller behind. A kid, who was once known for his insane dribbling ability started breaking various
goalscoring records. And Leo did that in style, I have never seen any player score so many goals with that ease, sometimes it looked like he was giving a pass from outside the box but his insane precision and accuracy meant it was hitting back of the post.
Leo under Pep and even few seasons after that was incredible and when we thought there is no more ingredients to his game, he took his passing to whole new level. Not just that, he started scoring freekicks like they were penalties.
Being named IFFHS best player of decade shows what a player he has become. And his insane efficiency with freekicks is another thing he has added to his game. Even after getting older and loosing his pace, he still is one of best dribblers around. I have never seen a player who
has evolved his game this much in his career. Just when we thought this is all Leo can do, he has always added something new to his game which is very rare to see in football IMO.
This is not just about him being able to do so many things, but in what way he does that. He literally tops every offensive stat of the game and he does that with quite a margin, it's insane.
I don't know about others but whenever I watch his game now, I get really frustrated when he misses a pass, looses the ball trying to dribble, not hit the target from outside the box and other so many things normal footballers often do on a football pitch.
In fact, Leo has spoiled us. His game has been so perfect throughout his career that his little mistakes never get overlooked just because he is Leo.
Recently against Bilbao, he hit the post twice and still went on to score 2. Tbh, when thought it was time for Leo and now he is going to degrade, he came back with a performance like that.
Anyway, he is going to degrade one day because football depends on so many things but we should feel blessed, especially those who have followed him from his youth days and watched him become a player he is now. It has been an exceptional journey. In 2010, if people had told me
Leo will score over 50 freekicks and will cement himself as one of the best freekick takers in the world, I would have laughed at them. This is how Leo has mesmerized us, evolving his game to the new level and always surprising us with new things.
I don't know who the GOAT is, neither I care but I am sure of it that we are not going to see a player who can evolve his game as much as Leo, not in next 40-50 years at least. We are coming to the end of a beautiful journey and what a journey it was.
As a football fan, it has been a treat to watch him every weak. People can talk about trophies, goals, stats, anything they want but at the end, as a football fan, you can only admire Leo because of his way of playing football.
RTs are appreciated and thank you for reading.
