Let’s not get into yet another discussion on whether Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo or vice versa. It’s a futile argument for which there is little interest.
Rather, it’s worth tipping a hat to both and what they’ve achieved, which in the Argentinian’s case this past weekend, is another dent in the footballing history books.
Scoring Barcelona’s second at Villarreal meant that Messi had reached another incredible milestone.
He’d already beaten two of Gerd Muller’s records in the past, and this time ‘Der Bomber’s’ 525 goals for a single club in the top European leagues was equalled and will be surpassed by Messi when he scores his next goal.
This record is one of the most significant, however, because those old enough to recall Muller in his pomp will understand he was one of the greatest ever strikers to play the game, certainly in the penalty box.
Messi, ostensibly, can’t be pigeon-holed as such, even though the sheer amount he scores would tell you otherwise.
Indeed, the vast majority of the German’s goals were ‘poached’ whereas a number of Messi’s have been all his own work.
The victory was also Messi’s 300th La Liga win in just 397 appearances in the Spanish top flight, which is a record for a foreign player.
With 142 assists in the league to boot, the influence that La Pulga has on the team is not in question, and is often to their detriment. How many times has the conversation come back around to ‘Messi-dependence’?
Regardless, with four years left of his Barcelona career, his majesty will soon be consigned to the memory bank.
Rather than eulogise about how good he was after the event, how about doing so now.
He is all of us. The child-like quality he brings to the world of football is unparalleled in elite level football, and he might just as well be at Hackney Marshes on a Sunday morning, for all of the respect he pays defenders.
It is an utter joy to watch him in full flow, and club colours shouldn’t sway opinion because everyone can see it with their own eyes.
His value to Barcelona can’t really be measured, and even at this point, he has more than double the amount of goals than previous club record holder, Cesar (232).
Another European trophy, Ballon d’Or and perhaps a World Cup would seal his legacy forever. A master at work.
