|
|
 |
|
Everyone has said everything there is to say about him and yet everyone who writes about the game seems to be drawn irresistibly towards superlative-laden odes. And for good reason: Lionel Messi is something else. He has participated in 46 competitive matches this year for Barça and he has scored 48 goals. 29 in the league, 7 in the Copa del Rey, 9 in the Champions League, and 3 in the Super Copa de España.
But it’s not really his goal scoring that has been so spectacular. He is also leading Spain in assists thanks to his ever-improving vision and understanding of the game. He is, of course, surrounded by a corps of unbelievably good players—Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Dani Alves to name just 3—but he can still at times seem miles ahead of them.
Against Shakhtar he took over for a moment and his silky skills, the ball glued to his foot as per usual, made sure that the players who challenged him were left cleaving air like participants in amateur night. His goals sometimes seem like an afterthought, as if he’s having too much fun dribbling to bother with a shot and then bloop he chips the keeper. Manuel Almunia must hate the little guy.
Statistically, there’s never been anyone better in a Barça shirt. At least not in a single season. Ronaldo—the real Ronaldo—scored 47 in 49 matches in 1996-97; Messi himself scored 47 in 53 last season. With at least 10 matches remaining, he’s on pace to score 58 and maybe a 59th if Barça makes it to the Champions League final. Yowza.
It’s somewhat absurd to add up what he might do because anything can happen, but with Raul scoring his 71st European goal, I wondered what kind of a pace Messi was on in those competitions. He’s got 34 Champions League goals in 54 appearances, 26 of them over them over the last 2 seasons and this one. If he keeps up that scoring pace, he’ll have 71 goals in only 47 more matches, which, if he continues to play the same number of matches as he has over that same time period, means 4 and a half seasons. Fall of 2015, when he’s 27.
But of course he never scores against Mourinho-led teams, so you’ll have to subtract those matches from his potential. Or wait until Saturday, Wednesday, the next Wednesday, and the following Tuesday to make that assessment. Will Madrid be able to keep The Little Man Who Could off the scoreboard? My money is on Leo.
[Updated: the year Ronaldo played for Barcelona was 1996-97, not 1999-2000 as first written. -Isaiah]
type="text/javascript">
Follow ESPNsoccernet's Football Correspondents on Twitter
 
Comments
 |
Posted by OPARA SAHEED on 04/14/2011
Longlive Messi longlive Barcelona.Real maldrid play messi while d rest of d team play Mourinho hope u can c d difficulties dey are into
|
Posted by Adebimpe Olufemi on 04/14/2011
I wish and pray messi should break his ill-record against the special one-i'm sure he'll find the net in one of those upcoming four el classicos,baring any injury that may sideline him
|
Posted by Akubude jesse on 04/14/2011
Messi is just too good.48 goals,that sound absord.He is a football magician.
|
Posted by cristian leal on 04/14/2011
he is an unbelievable soccer player he is the best player i ever seen in my live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
Posted by cristian leal on 04/14/2011
he is an unbelievable soccer player he is the best player i ever seen in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
Posted by aaron serna on 04/14/2011
chango pella pito haha messi is good
|
Posted by aaron serna on 04/14/2011
messi is a really good player and better than cristiano ronaldo and chango is cool
|
Posted by AARON on 04/14/2011
|
Posted by miake on 04/14/2011
jose eats tortas and is fat
|
Posted by cristian leal on 04/14/2011
BARCELONA IS GOING TO SMASH ON REAL MADRID THIS SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!
|
Posted by Brain wave on 04/15/2011
Barca for life,I know that barcelona is goog enough to get advantage of the front coming four eliclasicle tie,but having advantage of the ties does not mean that barca we take things in granted.I ensure u that messi we break a record agaist river side real madrid by open score line tommorrow. I believe in messi because I no he can do it again.
|
Posted by cynno on 04/15/2011
messi is much better than c.
|
Posted by Zahid ruzi on 04/15/2011
I thing Lionel messi is run Like a lion and snack. he is will.
|
Posted by Zahid ruzi AFG on 04/15/2011
messi one day you will be a muslim.
|
Posted by mutale on 04/16/2011
surely alot has been said about leo to the extent that some barca/general fans believe they has never been any to equate with but belive you me the ONLY reason that Leo's name/talent has been laudated excessively is due to THE ABSENCE OF QUALITY PLAYERS in his generation.Even at his optimum peak X 20 Leo can never come any closer to ronaldihno during his days.Ronaldihno was everything:stamina,creativity,assists,headers,passes,quality goals,speed,shots dribbling. Just look at how Ronaldihno fared with strong hard defenders he made them look second grade but with Leo sometimes half of this attributes are missing. If you observe carefully,he is just ullusive avoiding players. Infact he only shot at the goal from the diagonal leaning to the left. Also consider Zinadine,edgar davids,george weah to mention but afew. now in this era u dont find quality players competing stronly.This time it's just ronaldo and messi and you call that amazing play!
|
Posted by idowu oumide on 04/18/2011
i think messi is simply not human. he's just too good for comparism
|
Posted by ace8891 on 04/19/2011
messi is like a magician and the ball is his hat, every time he touches the hat u know sumthing special is gonna come out of it n every time he doesnt disappoint. GO MESSI!!!!! GO BARCA!!!
|
Posted by Joseph Mutimura on 04/20/2011
Guys, Like i commented last time yes BARCA play good football but they didn't play us last Saturday. Now i can guarantee u your going to see today in Final the true loins of Real Madrid.
In history of Football nobody has ever won Mourihno in Finals that i can assure u.
I bet my money last week $5000 usd nobody took it and am still betting on this final that we taking this Cup.
Am in Lagos Nigeria your going to tell me after the match.
|
Posted by Joseph Mutimura on 04/20/2011
Guys, Like i commented last time yes BARCA play good football but they didn't play us last Saturday. Now i can guarantee u your going to see today in Final the true loins of Real Madrid.
In history of Football nobody has ever won Mourihno in Finals that i can assure u.
I bet my money last week $5000 usd nobody took it and am still betting on this final that we taking this Cup.
Am in Lagos Nigeria your going to tell me after the match.
|
Posted by Sheikh on 04/20/2011
Joseph said, no one has won Mournho in finals, is because , he stops playing football when it comes to finals, he gets so defensive and spoils the beauty of the game to earn titles to his name, I bet 100,000 euro , that if he agrees to let some football being played by his players, barca will beat them 5-0 again...and Messi can toy with your crying baby Marcello all 90 min..
|
Posted by cerulean on 04/28/2011
He "managed" twice today :)
Both beauties.
Posted by Sam on 04/28/2011
Despite all the negatives of yesterday's game against Real MAdrid, I am convinced that Barcelona is the better team and deserve the win. I respect strategy (to quote Ronaldo)but goals win matches and the team that score the most wins. My complements to maestros Messi and Xavi and the remainder of this incredibly talented team. I love their style of football.
Posted by des on 05/03/2011
Messi is the best , 100 time better than C.Ronaldo........ Messi 4ever
Posted by Jennica on 11/03/2011
A million thakns for posting this information.
| |
Post your comment |
|
|
|
|
|
About
Hola! I am Francesc Tomas. Barcelona is my passion and home-town team. I consider myself lucky to have regularly attended matches at the Camp Nou since the early 1980s. My cousin played for the Barça youth academy, sharing the team with Don Andres Iniesta, which gave me a clear inside view of how our club works behind the scenes. I am also the founder, editor and columnist at Barcablog.com.
|
Categories
Recent Posts
Archives
|
RSS feed