Football Features - Part 12: Top 12 Strikers at the moment
1. Lionel Messi:
The Argentinean magician started his career from an Argentinean club named “Newell’s Old Boys” but his father wanted him to become a better player so he went to the Spanish side Barcelona who were considered to be having the best
youth academy in Europe. However, this wasn’t the whole story behind his transfer. The young Argentinean was suffering from medical problems and looking at his talent the Barcelona president decided to take him with his medical charges paid.
After recovering from his hormonal diseases, Lionel Messi became a part of the Barcelona youth academy. He showed the skill that he possessed and became an integral part of the Spanish side. With players like Ronaldo playing in
the first team, it was definitely impossible for him to feature for the club, however soon when Ronaldinho joined the Spanish side, Lionel Messi was seen on the bench more often.
Even though it was Ronaldinho making all those runs from the left flank and it was the Cameroonian, Samuel Eto’o who was scoring goals for the Spanish club; no one really knew that another talent was sitting outside the field and
was getting ready to make his way into the “big world.”
When Lionel Messi started playing for Barcelona, his talent was well recognized by the fans and they started praising him as a footballer. They all started comparing the little Argentinean to the legendary Maradona who also played
for Barcelona. Both of them were left footed and both of them used to play on the right wings. Not only this, he soon started becoming famous as “Messidona” as he attempted the “hand of god” and even the goal of the century while playing for the Spanish side.
In no time, Lionel Messi became a legend and with Ronaldinho gone, the club’s future relied on players like him. Ronaldinho’s legendary career in Barcelona was over and it was all up to Lionel Messi as he got the number 10 jersey,
that was also worn by the Argentinean legend Diego Maradona back in his time at Barcelona.
Lionel Messi’s character, however, wasn’t even close to that of Maradona. With Maradona being involved in cocaine and fights, Messi looked to be totally humble even though he was dragged and brought down by many defenders that
he faced during the football matches.
With Barcelona, Lionel Messi combined extremely well and with players like Xavi and Iniesta on his side, Lionel Messi soon started to score goals from his stronger left foot. With the help of the skill that he possessed, Lionel
Messi was awarded as the “player of year award.” The “humble” Argentinean told the world that it was never possible without the team and he is not a solo player but the comments were definitely very generous as everyone recognized him as an extraordinary talent.
That very season Barcelona managed to bag themselves six trophies, including the Champions League and also the Spanish La Liga. Lionel Messi was the man who scored time and time again for the Spanish side and helped them win all
these competitions.
With Messi shining in Club competitions, it was expected that he would do wonders in Argentina but unfortunately, the newly assigned coach Diego Maradona’s tactics did not really help the little magician to score goals for his
side. Diego Maradona deployed him as a central attacking midfielder even though he featured as a right winger for his club.
However, it was Lionel Messi who helped the team score goals, but it was Messi himself who could not even score a single goal throughout Argentina’s run in the FIFA World Cup 2010. They were paired up with easy teams but the Argentineans
only managed to win it till the pre quarter finals, where they suffered a loss against the Germans who totally outclassed them. It was simply seen that Maradona’s theories failed to impress everyone and it was Maradona who had to see retirement from the Argentinean
team.
Lionel Messi is definitely a legend. Even though he did not really shine in the FIFA World Cup 2010, he is definitely a player to look out for when he is on the field. He simply does wonders with his left foot and he has managed
to score a lot of goals throughout this “little” career as he is only 23 years old and has a lot left to play.
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