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What defines a great player? Is it goalscoring form? Is it the ability to set up players? Or is greatness defined by individual skills on the ball? What if a player has all these skills and brings even more to the table? The Greatest of All Time does not just score goals, he impacts the games in many more ways. He scores, he sets people up, he entertains and he gets the results. His all-round abilities make him unique, as does his exemplary humility and attitude. Which brings us to a certain Lionel Messi.
The Ballon d'Or snub was unjust, but putting him outside the final top three was criminal. Yet, Lionel Messi did not utter a word. People questioned his abilities, labelled him as having "only one skill", and once again, Messi kept silent. Because like the champion that he truly is, the Argentine believes in answering his critics on the field and this season, Messi has been doing just that.
The Argentine has been awarded the Man of the Match for 13 of the 21 games he has played so far, more than anyone else in the top leagues of Europe. He has also created the most chances and has scored the most goals from outside the box so far this season. This season, Lionel Messi has sizzled as usual, even though he missed three weeks due to injury. The Argentine's all-round abilities make him unique and here are 5 stats that once again prove that he is the Greatest of all Time.
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#5 Key Passes per game
Even though Barcelona has a host of attacking players, their skipper remains the creative hub of the team. His vision and understanding of the game is second to none and it is amazing how a player can be so effective from every part of the opposition half.
This season the Argentine has started from the right but pretty soon, he is dictating terms from everywhere beyond the halfway line. He is always alert, always watching and knows his teammate's habits inside out. Some of the connections are almost telepathic and every time he has the ball, his teammates know that if they make the right move, Messi will almost always find them with a brilliant ball.
Therefore, it is no wonder that only Dimitri Payet of Marseille has more key passes per game than Lionel Messi in the top leagues of Europe. The Argentine is currently averaging 3.3 key passes in a game in La Liga and 3 per game in the Champions League. His passing range is just one part of uncountable talents that make him the best in the world, however, skeptics would not be convinced by this statistic alone, so we delve into one of his strongest abilities next.
#4 Successful Dribbles per game
There is no debate that Lionel Messi is the best dribbler in the world right now. The way the ball hugs his left boot almost gives the impression that it is a part of his body. Like an obedient pupil, the ball listens to every command of its master and obeys it to perfection. The stadium goes into a silence of anticipation every time the Argentine has the ball, as do the millions of viewers across the world. It is a mark of his abilities, the respect he demands, the hopes he builds in the hearts of his fans and the panic he instils in the minds and bodies of the opposition.
For a man who has come 5th in the Ballon d'Or rankings, Messi's successful dribbles per game has been quite impressive so far. The Argentine is averaging 4.2 successful dribbles per game in La Liga, and only Neymar has registered more - 4.3 per game - than Messi this season.
The fact that Messi has continued to mesmerize with his ball skills this strengthens his stand as the Best Player in the World right now. Still not convinced? Prepare to get awestruck as we plunge into the business end of this article.
#3 Free Kick Goals
Simply outstanding. That was how Lionel Messi's performance against Espanyol at the start of December last year can be described. The Argentine scored two brilliant free kicks that stunned the world, as Barcelona won 4-0. Messi's curlers were the talk of the town though, how the ball had majestically rolled into the top right corner, just beyond the reach of the hapless keeper. It was simply outstanding, but it was not the first time he had done this.
Along with the two against Espanyol, Messi has scored two more in the season so far, against Alaves in August in La Liga and against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in September. The Argentinean has more free kick goals - 4 - than any other player in the top five leagues in Europe this season. It is also worth noting that he finished with 10 goals from free kicks in 2018, once again the most in the top five leagues in Europe.
Since 2014, Lionel Messi has 19 direct free kick goals, more than most top European teams. For the record, Juventus comes closest, with 18 goals. The Argentine is the undisputed king of free kicks, and by continuing the trend this season, Messi has proved once again that he is the GOAT.
#2 Assists
Lionel Messi is extremely unselfish and relishes in spreading joy, both on the pitch and in the stands. There's no other player in the world who looks as happy as the little magician when assisting his teammates. Messi is a team player and while he dribbles, creates chances and also scores from free kicks, it is his ability to consistently provide for his teammates, that adds a twinkle to the eyes of his millions of fans around the world.
The Argentine has been leading the assist charts in Europe for many seasons now and the fact that he scores as well as creates in equal measure is what makes him the best in the world. As usual, Messi has been in blistering form this season and is currently the man with the most assists in all of the top five leagues in Europe.
Messi has registered 10 assists so far this season in La Liga. Only Eden Hazard and Ryan Fraser come close with 9; both have played at least 4 more games! Messi now has 12 assists from 22 games in all competitions for Barcelona so far. It is worth noting that the Argentine has missed 3 weeks due to injury and still ended at the top of the pile, reiterating our stance that he is the GOAT.
#1 Goals
In the end of the day, footballers are mostly judged by the number of goals they score and this is where Lionel Messi has been devastatingly good for over a decade now. The Argentine has scored 40 goals or more for Barcelona, for 11 consecutive seasons now, a proof of how good he can be in front of goal. Messi has scored more than 25 league goals for 11 consecutive seasons as well and this time too, the Barcelona skipper has been brilliant in front of goal.
Lionel Messi has scored 16 goals from 16 games in the League so far, the most in the top five leagues in Europe. The three players next in the list - Ronaldo, Kane and Aubameyang - have all scored 14 goals, however, they have played at least 3 more games!
The Argentinean has found the back of the net 22 times from 21 games in total this season. He has had 2 hattricks, and has also scored a brace in a game 5 times this season! He is averaging 5.3 shots per game in the Champions League - where he has scored 6 goals from 4 games - and 4.9 shots per game in La Liga.
Lionel Messi's brilliant goalscoring form this season reinstates his stance as the best footballer in the World right now and provides the most convincing proof that the Argentinean is the GOAT.
