The irony of having to defend Lionel Messi

By Eric Beard

You do know this is the same guy most of you have been in awe of all year, right?

It’s hard to find many cases more explicitly capturing the fickle nature of the neutral football fan (and journalist) than the double-standard that is placed upon Lionel Messi when he’s wearing blue and red in Barcelona and when he’s wearing blue and white in Buenos Aires. Messi had an average game against Bolivia in the opening match of Copa América, but let’s put things into perspective before something ridiculous is said. Oh, what’s that? Goal.com has already taken quotes out of context and mistranslated them in an attempt to portray the best player in the world as a despicable figure? (Note: Actual quotes in Spanish and appropriate context here) We’re too late!

It’s no secret that the Argentina fans give Messi a rough time for not getting his name on the scoresheet as often as he does for Guardiola, and the aggravation at times is understandable. But it is by no means unique to have your most talented player “underachieve” on the international level. England have Gerrard and Lampard. The USA have Clint Dempsey. Brazil even had their own example with Ronaldinho. The difference is a performance that doesn’t match the absurd hype that rises around Leo’s every move is met with disillusion. A vacuous sense of nonchalant, egomaniacal behavior is irrationally associated with the #10. When Messi was not being completely dominant against Bolivia it was his fault. The fact that Bolivian coach Gustavo Quinteros outsmarted his Argentine counterpart Sergio Batista with a man-marking system around la pulga and eliminating any direct threats toward goal? Well, clearly that’s just a sidenote. The main rhetoric here is Messi’s apathy for La Albiceleste! He doesn’t care. He’s lived the majority of his life in Spain! He never played for Boca Juniors or River Plate! He’s never even been decent for Argentina!

The nonsense that continues to arise never ceases to amaze me. He’s 24. He is the main reason why Argentina won the Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympics. He led Argentina to the 2007 Copa América Final, scoring this golazo along the way. But there’s nothing Messi can do to stop the chatter, well besides winning a World Cup. He’s an easy target, a target that relieves Argentines and helps poor journalism garner a few extra reads. Every problem in Argentina’s squad, when it’s all said and done, is ignored to an extent and instead Messi is blamed for not being superhuman enough on the pitch. Argentina’s lack of shape, solidarity, and composure in the back? The absence of a passing rhythm and ability to maintain possession in the midfield? The inability for wingers to create decent chances? Not as important as Messi not beating that fifth man on his thirty yard run. Obviously.

No one listens to what the man himself has actually been saying and showing us all along.