Why Lionel Messi is still football's finest

It is often said that awards and numbers fail to justify an art form. When we talk about football, this statement is surely true.

For instance, statistics won't show Lionel Messi's insane piece of skill against Atletico Madrid a week ago, but Leo Messi certainly summarises our reasons to fall in love with the beautiful game.

Leo Messi has begun this season in his usual spectacular manner in spite of injuries. He was voted 'UEFA player of the week' three times already in his 3 appearances in the UEFA Champions League, and has won six 'Man of the Match' awards from his 10 appearances this season. There are no points for guessing who is running the show at FC Barcelona.

Over the past 12 years, we have become familiar with Lionel Messi's seemingly impossible tricks. The magic he weaves on the pitch seems impossible to perform even in video games, but over the years we have often gasped in awe and watched in shock as Messi performs his holy ritual of destroying the defensive barriers of opponents.

We are at a point where we might think his tricks are all too familiar now. Surely Leo cannot surprise us anymore, he has already done enough. But mere mortals cannot possibly comprehend Messi's limitless inhuman calibre.

He still surprises us from time to time by pulling a rabbit out of the hat. We can't ever adjust our minds to his brilliance - his magic won't ever get old.

Even in closed spaces where it may seem like there is no way, Messi will find one

The match against Atletico Madrid ended in a 1-1 draw, with Leo Messi not on the score sheet. But one of the best moments of the match came when Leo Messi was hustling with Atletico Madrid left back, Filipe Luis, for the ball.

Being one of the tiniest men on the pitch, Leo jumped as high as he could for the ball. As the ball came down, Leo almost caressed the ball with his sublime touch to the ground, and used his back heel to put the ball between the legs of Filipe Luis as he looked the other way.

The effortless manner in which Messi went past Luis is a testament to the fact that he never runs out of ideas. Even in closed spaces where it may seem like there is no way, Messi will find one and surprise the footballing world with his magic once again.

His goal against PSV in the UEFA Champions League this week is another great example, though we don't need one. Messi started the move with his burst of alien like pace, and fed Ousmane Dembele with the pass, the French man was brilliant enough to return the ball to Messi on his right.

With a flock of men upfront, Leo feinted a bit as he went past one and placed the ball in between three defenders, the keeper, and the post with his intricate touch from a tight angle which left the goalkeeper helpless.

The statistics surrounding Messi often reach unprecedented heights, but his mesmerising exploits against defenders where he finds an impossible way out summarises our reasons to love the beautiful game.

He may not be as strong as Diego Godin, as tall as Raphael Varane, or as athletic as Cristiano Ronaldo, but Messi is exceptional due to his relationship with the football.

It is time we realise how lucky we truly are to watch arguably the greatest player ever to grace the game. We should be grateful and not forget why we fell in love with this beautiful game in the first place, and Lionel Messi is a constant reminder of just that.