Lionel Messi: Underrated.
Turning 39 years old this tournament, Messi takes the stage for one last time in the blue and white of Argentina, in a major competition. Is it possible to understate the brilliance of this little man? We think so…
Despite over 2 decades of football’s most successful player tearing teams apart, fans and pundits alike remain torn on who truly deserves the title of our sport’s ‘Greatest Of All Time.’ Is it him, Cristiano, Pele, Maradona, R9, or someone else? Subjectively, a viewer can have their preferences, deciding for themselves who they believe is the greatest they have seen. Objectively, it’s impossible to ignore the truth.
As mentioned previously, Lionel Messi is the sport’s most decorated individual ever, with 46 trophies to his name. Besides this, he has won 8 Balon D’or, 6 European Golden Boots and many more personal awards. If we’re talking success, Messi is the pinnacle in football. Holding the record for most goals in a calendar year (91) and the most assists in a calendar year (37), he’s clearly the greatest at what he does: scoring and creating.
Don’t write about him. Don’t try to describe him: watch him. - Pep Guardiola, 2012
So statistically he’s the greatest. Okay, what about on the eye? Well, it’s not even worth describing what Messi can do with a football, even Pep Guardiola himself tells me not to! Nonetheless, I’ll try my best! Disguised rolls and shifts, feet quicker than magicians’ hands, perfect placement finishing and passes you don’t even consider possible, Messi operates in his own realm with the ball at his feet. Ex-England and Barcelona striker Gary Lineker once said: ‘He watches the game of football from above whilst he plays it at the same time.’ It’s hard to put it much better than that.
Okay, you’re convinced. But why is it still worth talking about him? Surely it’s all been said before? Most of it probably has, but whilst he still laces his boots on a matchday, there’s always more to marvel at. On 16th June 2026 in Kansas City, U.S.A, the Argentinian captain lined up for his nation (for the 200th time), in their World Cup 2026 opener against Algeria. 4 years earlier, the entire globe was left stunned by a 35 year-old veteran who dragged his country to a World Cup title. Now, with yet another yard of pace gone, a hat-trick brought Argentina’s no. 10 level with Miroslav Klose as the highest goalscorer in World Cup history, with 16 goals. The way we see it, Messi is just reminding everyone that he remains one of the best in the world.
No one player is perfect, but Messi remains the closest there ever will be.
