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What do you say about the little genius? I mean. What do you say?
The best of his generation; the greatest of his time? The Greatest of All-Time?
It's never easy to describe with words - we often use to describe things or worse, other people - the talent of the Argentine. This supernatural anomaly, this rebuke to realism, points to something indescribable; something divine.
But here we are, taking another go at trying to put-into-words (what is unfathomable to the human mind) the utter brilliance of Lionel Messi.
Forgive me, if and when I fail to do justice to the crowned king of 'from another world' football.
#MessiMessiMessi
#5 Leo Messi vs Ecuador to send Argentina into the World Cup Finals in Russia 2018
"..looking for the hat-trick..! He is incredible! Messi saves Argentina!"
Argentina were on the precipice of failing to qualify to the World Cup Finals in Russia this year. They had an abysmal campaign in the South American Qualifying stage for the biggest sporting event in the world. After beating Chile, the national side lost to Bolivia and failed to put away Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru; putting themselves in a must-win clash against Ecuador.
They couldn't have gotten off to a worse start conceding inside the opening 38 seconds of the game. The incapability to find the back of the net now only weighed more heavily on the minds of the attacking line.
All of Argentina hoped their all-conquering talisman would drag them out of the mess they found themselves in, and boy did they get their wish.
The all-time leading goalscorer for Barcelona started getting on the ball right away and looked to force things. He played in Angel Di Maria on a couple of occasions but the PSG man failed to finish.
Not willing to lean on the rest of his team, Messi took matters (of finishing) into his own hands. In the 12th minute he linked up with the former Madrid man and slotted the ball home with a first time finish with the outside of his left boot, through the keeper's legs.
And right in that moment, the game had swung the way of Argentina.
The mesmerising display from the 5 time Ballon d'Or winner was far from over, putting his native country in the lead after winning the ball on the edge of the opposition box and despite being put under pressure by two defenders, blasted the ball in at the near post, into the roof of the net.
That lethal left foot of his was at it again, rounding off his hat-trick for the night, but most importantly booking a berth for his country in Russia in 2018.
Not good for his national side this kid, is he?
#4 Leo Messi came on near the hour mark with Barca trailing against Racing Santander and scored twice to hand the Catalans all three points
"What an incredible goal! Is there nothing this young man isn't capable of doing?"
The year was 2009 and Barcelona were travelling to Racing de Santander to play a league fixture. Barcelona were battling to regain the La Liga title from bitter rivals Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola had made a few changes to his side and decided to give the Argentine a rest with plenty of fire power in Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o to lead the line.
But things didn't quite go according to plan. The Spanish minnows put up stiff resistance against the Catalan side and managed to put themselves in the lead. The star studded line-up (despite Messi's absence) failed to find a way to break down the defence and get level. Fifty-eight minutes had passed and Guardiola was done taking chances.
On came the little magician.
Needing only 5 minutes on the pitch, the 'greatest player in the world' dragged his team level by placing the ball into an empty net from a rebound off the bar - and this is where we cheat you a little - using his weaker RIGHT foot. And he didn't stop there.
Fifteen minutes later Messi was at it again, controlling the ball on his chest and going past a defender (who lunged at him and was certain to give away a penalty) all in one movement, refused to go down under the challenge despite the ball dropping onto his weaker side and thumped a volley, with his right foot, into the far corner beyond the diving keeper.
1-2 to Barcelona and the tormentor-in-chief had rescued the match, and the title, for the Spanish giants. Just another day at the office for Lionel Messi.
#2 Leo Messi walked onto the pitch at the Estadio Vicente Calderon in the second half and sealed all three points for Barcelona against Atletico
"Not too many minutes for Messi, but a goal for Lionel Messi"
Atletico Madrid have come up against the Argentine on numerous occasions, and like most other teams in the league, have failed to formulate an approach to foil the greatest player on the planet.
We had a range of choices to choose from - of Messi toying with Atletico - but we've decided to go with the match two season ago, when Atletico had managed to get back into the game by levelling up the score-line (deservedly) via Fernando Torres.
Barca's main man, Messi wasn't included in the starting line-up (Luis Enrique the culprit) and was an un-assuming figure on the bench for most of the match, till the team from Madrid evened it up in the second half.
The home crowd went ballistic but surprisingly the theatrics of their manager was nowhere to be seen.
Reporter : "Why didn't you celebrate the Torres goal?"
Diego Simeone : "Because I saw Messi warm up.."
As it turned out Diego Simeone, who had an eye on Messi warming up, knew better than those present in the stands. The sense of certainty that accompanies the magician isn't only felt by the Not camp faithful, but by the rest of the world as well. The script was written for the talent of a generation to embody. And so he did.
A matter of minutes on the pitch, the diminutive Argentine provided a bit of teeth to the Barcelona attack, as Luis Suarez laid off a first time ball to the number 10 who didn't waste any time bothering with a touch, and with the outside of his left boot caressed the ball into the back of the net.
All three points travelled with the Catalans back to the Camp Nou and they had their unimaginably gifted goal-scorer to thank for it. Something the world of football is similarly thankful for.
#2 Messi came off the bench to rescue Barcelona from the brink of elimination in the Champions League tie against PSG
"..to change the psychology and mentality of all of your teammates and all of the stadium.. Just recognise how special he is."
It was the second leg of the Champions league quarter final draw between Barcelona and PSG and the year was 2012. Messi had sustained a hamstring injury from the first leg and wasn't fit to play the subsequent fixture, but Barcelona knew better than to submit a team sheet without their prized possession's name on it.
Considering the nature of hamstring injuries Barcelona were weary of wanting to use the Argentine in the reverse leg and barring a major catastrophe, Messi wouldn't be involved in the game. But then, catastrophe struck.
Javier Pastore found himself with the ball and acres of space ahead of him which he utilised to the benefit of the Parisians and bundled the ball in off Victor Valdes to put his side in the driver's seat with one foot in the semis. It was 2-3 on aggregate.
The celebrations were a little immature as the 4 time Champions League winner sent himself to warm up without waiting for any instructions from the managing staff. Messi made the call to enter the fray soon after and the rest as they say is history.
The Argentine was far from a 100 percent fit, but you wouldn't've noticed, as he got on the ball for his side and started to get his team believing again. What a feeling it must be to see him come on for your side. That feeling of inevitability that we spoke about, always surrounds the ridiculously talented footballer.
The heartbeat of the Barcelona had gotten going again and suddenly there was life.
The wizard picked the ball up in the middle of the park - a touch to kill the ball and draw Marco Verratti in, a second, third and a fourth to get away from the Italian, a fifth to come inside the veteran Tiago Motta before splitting three defenders with a pass to find David Villa who laid it off to Pedro - who drilled the ball home.
It was as if the whole level of performance, put in by the team, went up a few notches the moment the genius stepped onto the field. He didn't even have to score. All he did was inspire. And of course sprinkled a little bit of gold dust - that only he possesses - on the match.
The record will reflect that it was Pedro's goal that saved Barcelona from elimination, but the collective consciousness of the footballing world, has quite another story to tell.
#1 Messi scores for Barcelona for the first time ever...
"Ronaldinho.. and this time Messi is onside. And it's an identical chip from the young substitute. BRILLIANT!"
The last instance of Messi magic, in this compilation, is the one that will remain engrained in our memories forever.
We're talking about the time when the swing of Messi's left boot didn't really alter the course of the game that Barcelona were quite comfortably winning, but altered the course of the game of football.
In hindsight, it's so surreal to reflect on how Barcelona celebrated that goal. Messi on the back of Barcelona's 'King' at the time - Ronaldinho - with Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta and Deco all joining in to congratulate the crowned prince of Nou Camp; and so he remains and will forever.
His first professional goal for Barcelona had Messi written all over it. The effortless nonchalance of his chip has ruined many reputations and only further more careers since. Messi was probably the best footballer on the planet at 4 years old (or whenever he first touched a football), but In that very moment a star was born.
A star that has shone brighter than any that have come before it, and will be shining bright long after those who've come after it, burn out.
DISCLAIMER : Wondering why none of the Real Madrid matches featured? Show us how you like this, and we'll do a whole new one featuring just Real Madrid. :)
