5 reasons why Barcelona will never be able to replace Lionel Messi

There is unlikely to be another player like Lionel Messi.
There is unlikely to be another player like Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi's departure from Barcelona is a hard one to take. The club's announcement about the player leaving the club after 17 historic years came as a shock to many but also broke many hearts.

It seemed almost impossible to see the Argentine player ever play in any other colour than that of the Blaugrana, but it's a harsh reality we now have to live with. Messi's exit leaves a massive void at the club, who have now started preparing for a future without him.

But no matter how much money they spend trying to replace him, Messi is unlikely to ever be replaced. Here are five reasons why:


#5 Lionel Messi's records are extraordinary

Lionel Messi's numbers are so insane, it's hard to see them getting surpassed anytime soon.
Lionel Messi's numbers are so insane, it's hard to see them getting surpassed anytime soon.

Lionel Messi wasn't an instant hit at Barcelona. He broke into the side as a promising 17-year-old in 2004. But since he scored that famous goal off Ronaldinho's pass, the Argentine hasn't looked back.

He added 671 more strikes in the next 17 years - 440 more than the next best scorer in the club's history - and made 305 assists too, which is another record.

Messi hasn't merely stat-padded his way. His incredible feats have helped his side secure a staggering 35 trophies in this period, including ten league titles and four Champions Leagues.

He was also a key part of the side that won continental trebles in 2009 and 2015. Messi, along the way, won the Ballon d'Or on both occasions, another four, which is the most by any player.


#4 Lionel Messi's consistency is unimaginable

Lionel Messi may have been getting older, but his performances remain top-notch.
Lionel Messi may have been getting older, but his performances remain top-notch.

Ever since he took over the number 10 jersey from Ronaldinho in 2008, Lionel Messi has delivered consistently for Barcelona. In fact, he just kept getting better and better with each season.

He has been a prolific goalscorer, breaching the 50-goal mark in a league season (2011-12), and maintained those staggering standards for years.

Although he didn't score much in the last two seasons, Messi made up for that with astounding assist numbers and getting more involved in playmaking than ever before.

There was never really a period when Messi was thought to be on the decline or going through a rough patch at a personal level, regardless of his team's performances.

Such was his consistency. Good luck to the next number 10 trying to beat that.

#3 Lionel Messi's brand value is incomparable

Lionel Messi has always ranked inside the top 10 most marketable athletes in the world.
Lionel Messi has always ranked inside the top 10 most marketable athletes in the world.

Lionel Messi is a superstar on the field and a huge marketable brand off it. His popularity has made a seismic impact on the club over the years in terms of jersey sales and expanding its fanbase around the world.

The player's stature in the game garnered plenty of sponsors for Barcelona, helping generate massive revenues, while also attracting fans inside the stadium in droves every time he played.

Messi not only brought silverware to his club but also plenty of commercial success; the kind of which very few players have done before. So his departure could affect Barcelona off the field too.

It's impossible to imagine anyone else bringing so much brand value to Barcelona.


#2 Lionel Messi was more than just a player for Barcelona

Whoever becomes the next Barcelona captain has a tough act to follow
Whoever becomes the next Barcelona captain has a tough act to follow

Lionel Messi was not just the most valuable player for Barcelona, but also a leader and a highly inspirational figure, both on the field and in the dressing room.

He commanded tremendous respect among his teammates, who understandably held the star in high regard, and played a key role in keeping the side together.

The Argentine may have only graced the captain's armband since 2018. but his leadership qualities have long been there for everyone to see. But particularly in the last three years, he truly laid out an example as a leader too.

Young players in the squad look up to him and his accomplishments as something to emulate, constantly drawing inspiration from Messi. It's going to be a quite a task to find a player (or cultivate one) like that again.


#1 There is unlikely to be anyone like Lionel Messi again

No amount of money can get Barcelona another player like Lionel Messi.
No amount of money can get Barcelona another player like Lionel Messi.

Many players will come and wear Lionel Messi's fabled number 10 jersey at Barcelona in the future. But there is unlikely to be anybody like him.

The standards he has set are too high for anyone from the current generation to emulate. There has never been a player who's had as much influence on the club as Messi has had.

Players like Messi don't come around often. Barcelona could spend millions in search of a replacement, but are unlikely to unearth another Messi.

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Edited by Bhargav