10 Reasons Why Lionel Messi Is the Greatest Footballer of All Time
Lionel Messi needs little introduction to football fans worldwide, so we'll keep this short and sweet. The PSG star is widely considered the best football player of all time, and with good reason – he possesses qualities that make him an impossible-to-stop force in any match he plays, whether on the pitch or the street. Here are ten reasons why Lionel Messi will always be the greatest footballer of all time.
1) He can score from anywhere
Lionel Messi can score from anywhere and by any means. He doesn't have a set place to shoot. Instead, he picks his spot while dribbling around his opponents. The other team never knows where he will go, so they are always on their toes. They know Lionel Messi will be there if they relax even for a second. Even with all these exceptional skills, Lionel Messi has never scored in a World Cup game or against Germany. These are incredible feats that nobody can achieve, and these two things make Lionel Messi an even more incredible athlete.
While he may not have scored against Germany and in a World Cup game, Lionel Messi has been achieving many goals throughout his career. The only person to ever score as many goals as Lionel Messi is Gerd Müller, who played in three world cups compared to one Lionel Messi. This makes you realize how much better Lionel Messi is than everyone else. Not only does he have endless amounts of skill, but he uses it at the correct times, making him an even more outstanding player.
2) His dribbling skills are excellent
Compared to many other football players in recent years, we can genuinely say that no one can match up with Messi regarding his dribbling skills. He has a unique way of using both feet at once and moves with accuracy and speed. Look at his awesome compilation video below, where he does amazing things with just two feet. Also, in contrast to other well-known footballers, he always seems like he's taking on defenders one by one instead of launching himself into them, which is probably what makes him so good at making quick moves around his opponents while still keeping control over the ball possession.
Being that good at dribbling, you have to be able to predict your opponent's moves and react to them quickly. That's precisely what Lionel Messi does in his matches and probably how he quickly makes it seem as if there are only two players on each field during a game—Messi himself, and everyone else. He knows when to speed up or slow down while dribbling, when to turn left or right and when to dodge around incoming defenders just by relying on his accurate movements and steady feet. It is something no one has been able to accomplish before, like how he manages not just four but even five defenders going after him at once (as shown below) without breaking a sweat.
3) His pace is blistering
The most devastating player in Europe, Lionel Messi, is a menace to any defence he faces. His pace has been measured at close to 30mph, which makes him significantly quicker than Usain Bolt. His average top speed over 90 minutes is 25.24km/h – higher than any other footballer in history! With his change of pace and outstanding acceleration and agility, he can beat anyone on his day.
As well as his pace, he's also very quick with both his feet and his mind. He weighs only 72kg, but that doesn't stop him from being hard to shake off or escape from. He famously burst past Patrice Evra at Old Trafford to score a stunning solo goal against Manchester United in 2011 – and did so without even using a stepover! With teammates like Dani Alves on hand to open up defences with pace, Messi is practically unplayable.
His heading ability is second-to-none: For a player who stands at only 168cm tall (5ft 6in), Messi has proven time and time again that he can outjump his more elevated markers.
4) On his day, he is unstoppable
It's not just that Lionel Messi is a great footballer; he is one of those athletes who come along every so often and takes everyone else's breath away. The sheer magnitude of what they can do with a ball at their feet defies belief. This was never more true than in recent years when he has made goal after goal seem effortless and routine.
In an era when footballers seem to specialize in a position and do one thing very well, Messi is more versatile. He can play any role on the pitch and does all of them brilliantly. For example, in recent years, Barcelona has played him further back on either wing or as a central attacking midfielder, positions where he still manages to have a massive effect on games. If there was one man who could do it all, then Lionel is it.
Football's greatest goalscorer: The stats say that not only is Lionel Messi probably better than any other footballer currently playing, but he might also be better than anyone else at lacing up a pair of boots for a club or country.
5) He doesn't give up
Do you think you can always get back up from being knocked down? Well, Lionel Messi shows us all that it's possible. The Argentine football legend knows a thing or two about struggle. Other kids, for his small stature, constantly overlooked him, and he almost gave up on his dream of becoming a footballer when he grew to only 5 feet 5 inches tall. But he didn't give up. He went out and proved all his haters wrong by dedicating himself to perfecting his game, which ultimately led him to win four FIFA Ballon d'Or awards—one more than Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James—and becomes widely considered one of the best footballers ever! Now that's what I call never giving up!
Football is not about becoming a star overnight. It's about dedication, commitment and sacrifice. No one knows that better than Lionel Messi, who has been playing football since he was four. He dedicated his life to learning and perfecting his craft while juggling it with schooling. His relentless hard work eventually paid off when Barcelona took notice of him at age 13, giving him a chance to fulfil his dream by joining its youth system. As a teenager, he signed for FC Barcelona's first team in 2003 before rising through its ranks and becoming captain in 2014.
6) He plays with passion
Anyone who has watched Lionel Messi play knows he plays with a passion that few other players in the game have ever been able to replicate. He's always playing with a smile, and you can tell he loves being out on the pitch, competing for goals and just having fun. Because of his passion for football, no matter what team he's playing for, or even if it's a friendly match against an amateur club, you can always see that little extra come out when he steps onto the field. It almost looks as if there is just something in him saying I get to play football every day; how lucky am I? The joy he brings from playing is contagious.
Passion alone, however, doesn't mean you're destined to be great at something. Many people have love in their lives, and they don't all make it to that next level. However, when you combine passion with hard work, ambition and commitment, then anything is possible. For example, in his youth football days, Lionel Messi was a disruptive child who couldn't sit still for very long. To calm him down, his father would sign him up for various sports so he could spend time with others his age and not just idle away doing nothing on his own. One of these sports happened to be football.
7) He keeps improving
With every passing year, Lionel Messi is just a little better than before. Sure, we've come to expect that from him by now—but that doesn't mean it isn't still crazy impressive when he finds another new gear. At 29 years old and with over 1,000 career appearances behind him, one might assume that Messi has already peaked. But you wouldn't say that after watching any of Barcelona's games so far in 2018-19; between a goal tally that makes his previous season totals look pedestrian and assists throughout the lineup that adds up to more than any other player in Europe, it seems like there are no limits left for Leo.
From stats to skills and personal achievements, there are many reasons why Lionel Messi deserves all that praise. And as we see every time he steps onto a football pitch, they're only growing more impressive with each passing season. Sure, he's been on top his whole career; but now, at 29 years old and in his 15th season as a Barcelona player, there are no signs that he'll slow down anytime soon. As long as his body will allow it (which seems like forever), expect to see an even better Lionel Messi than you've seen before out on the field next year...and beyond.
8) There are only two ways to beat him – either by fouling him or kicking the ball off his foot (imagine being able to kick a ball off his foot!)
It's impossible to foul Lionel Messi in such a way that he cannot run around you. For any defender, there are only two ways to deal with him: kick his feet and hope he trips over or gives up on trying and allow him to waltz past you. This video shows how hard it can be for defenders; it should go without saying that this skill level is hard (but not impossible) to achieve without having enough space and time on a football pitch.
It's because of these reasons that I consider Lionel Messi to be one of if not the best footballers in history. He has dominated world football for many years, and he is still playing at an incredibly high level even as he gets older. But to my mind, there are even more amazing things about him. In particular, his balance, quickness and strength make it incredibly hard for defenders to tackle him and his vision (of his teammates) and passing skills are second to none! So if you have ever wondered how good Lionel Messi is or why people think he's so great... Well, now you know! And who knows? Maybe you might start watching football too!
9) Opposition players never give up trying to tackle him
Whether he's running through players or beating them around a tight corner, Lionel Messi never ceases to amaze. The Argentine's slippery moves and sudden direction changes are so bewildering that defenders are often left flat-footed, despite having plenty of time to set themselves. It can take an entire team working together to contain him – with some managers using more than one player on him at once. It takes something special for opposition players not to put their whole being into getting a tackle in on Lionel Messi!
When you watch Lionel Messi playing football, it's hard to believe he is just one man. His playing style is so mesmerizing that opponents sometimes struggle to keep up with him even when they don't have other players trying to stop them! Some say that defending against a single player is like defending against eleven – but it feels more like an army of defenders when you're trying to get close to Lionel Messi. Stopping him feels impossible, whether dribbling through players or running past them in their half. Unless someone can find a way to stop him, Lionel Messi will continue his run as football's greatest-ever player!
10) He could be one of them. Maybe even you.
He could be your neighbour, friend or even co-worker. He may play for a top professional soccer club or a small amateur team. He might never get famous, but he'll always love what he does — no matter how big (or small) his audience. In short, these are some things you probably don't know about Lionel Messi: You probably think that because he is one of the best footballers in history, he must have been one from childhood.
How did he become one? Where did it all start? What was his childhood like? When did he discover that he had exceptional abilities? And how does a boy from a small town in Argentina grow up to be recognized as one of, if not THE best footballer in history? There are plenty of interesting answers.
Conclusion
We are proud to count Lionel Messi amongst us mere mortals. His accomplishments on and off the pitch, especially his humble approach to everyday life, is something we can all learn from. Most importantly, however, he has not forgotten how it feels to be a child at play; when you're just doing things because you love them. And isn't that why we all started? So next time you hear a soccer mom who says she doesn't get the football to, say La Pulga (the flea) will score two goals on her son's team...make sure she knows who Lionel is and why everyone who plays with passion should look up to him.
In honour of a particular player, we asked New Yorker writer Graham Parker about his favourite memories of La Pulga and why it's so difficult for opponents to stop him. My favourite Lionel Messi moments are when he does something so utterly extraordinary that it beggars belief. One example is his goal against Arsenal in 2010, when he robbed Abou Diaby with one touch, then blew past four other players before scoring from a seemingly impossible angle—all in about six seconds. Another was when he scored from practical midfield against Getafe with a sublime chip.