El Messias: A God Amongst Men

By Dylan Lebecki

Over the last century, football has been blessed with certain moments in history where the whole world stops. These moments occur when one man reaches to the heavens and produces a moment of magic that will last in most football fans minds forever. In 1986 Diego Maradona made the English national team look like children when he gracefully wove through the entire team. Or when Zinedine Zidane hit a blistering last minute left footed volley from outside the box, showing the whole world his magnificent technique. Its moments such as these where for less than a minute you have the world at your feet that produce football legends. 

While those legends, among others, are no longer on the field, their example has led the way for a new generation who only dream of replicating the magic their idols shared with the world. Although players such as Ronaldo and Kaka are fantastic, one man stands above them all. This man is a young 22 year old called Lionel Messi. This season he has proven his might and certified his place as the world best player in most football fans minds. With a style can compared to the great Maradona’s; Messi regularly leaves multiple defenders, fans and keepers praying as his trickery leaves him to surge past all who stand in his way. When the ball is at La Pulga’s feet, it is a joy to behold as he leaves his mark on the world like no one ever has.  

Messi first came on the seen as a young 19-year-old. Relatively unknown, he took the center stage in the Copa del Rey tie against Getafe where he replicated Maradona’s 1986 goal against England. From then on Messi has constantly been rising, after coming both third and second in the Ballon D’Or rankings, after winning every possible club title with Barcelona, Lionel Messi’s status as the world’s best was cemented as the world’s best when he won the prestigious Ballon D’Or and Fifa World Player of the Year. One now can only wonder what Messi will achieve in his long career ahead of him and can he fulfil his enormous potential and become the best player to have ever lived.  

Yes. Lionel Messi won’t stop. He is not only a wizard when the ball is at his feet but he also works relentlessly when assuming his defensive duties. As he showed last weekend, Lionel Messi single handily stole the ball from a Zaragoza defender before skipping past two other defenders and passing the ball straight into the back of the net.  

The only obstacle confronting Lionel Messi before he truly becomes the best player the world has ever seen is World cup glory and this summer he will be handed this opportunity to his feet. He will be able to prove the world that he deserves his place as the Zeus of football. Will he lift the World Cup for Argentina? 

We are lucky to be alive when Lionel Messi is at his best because who knows when another player this magnificent will come along. In recent games Messi’s form has been world class, scoring 8 stunning goals in 3 games over the course of 1 week. What is next to come from the world’s best player?