Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players, known for his exceptional skills and numerous awards, including seven FIFA Ballon d'Or awards.

He has led Barcelona to ten La Liga and four Champions League titles, scoring over 700 official goals for club and country.

Messi's playing style is characterized by exceptional dribbling, speed, and vision, creating scoring opportunities for himself and teammates.

He is considered a true professional, known for his rigorous daily training routine that includes individual activation, strength sessions, recovery work, and nutrition.

Messi's presence on the pitch inspires younger players and sets a high standard for professionalism and dedication.

He has won numerous awards, including seven Golden Balls and 42 team trophies, and holds the record for most goals scored in a calendar year.

Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, inspiring a new generation of players.

He is a role model for young footballers worldwide due to his dedication and passion for the sport.

Messi is considered the most dangerous player in the world due to his ability to perform under pressure.

He generates 5.25 dangerous situations per game, outperforming top players like Erling Haaland.

Messi's decision-making and ability to create scoring opportunities make him the world's top football player.

He has a growth mindset, believing talent can be developed through dedication and hard work.

Messi's success is due to his strong work ethic and numerous awards, including 7 Ballon d'Or awards.

His training routine is highly unique and cerebral, focusing on energy conservation and careful planning, reflecting his exceptional gameplay creativity.

Messi's approach to matches involves mental preparation, watching the field to create scoring opportunities, and exceptional spatial awareness.

He excels at creating scoring opportunities, with former coach Pep Guardiola praising his smart playing style.

Messi's playing style involves walking during games and positioning himself near the opponent's penalty area to create spaces.

He identifies weaknesses in the defense and can open the game from any position, making him a key player.

Messi's influence on modern football extends beyond his achievements, reshaping the sport and inspiring admiration both on and off the pitch.

He has huge attacking variability and excellent understanding with his teammates, making him a key figure in modern football.

Messi is a football altruist who plays successfully with partners.

He leads in dribbling, but struggles with implementation, scoring 6 goals with 7.1 xG, remaining a dominant force.

Lionel Messi's influence on modern football extends beyond his achievements, impacting younger players and the sport's overall style of play.

He is widely considered the best player of all time, thanks to his exceptional decision-making on the field.

Messi understands his opponents' strengths and weaknesses to create scoring opportunities and read the game effectively.

He plans penalties carefully and has a unique style of play.

Messi has an exceptional ability to read the game and make decisions.

He receives the ball with prior information, using his movement and passing ability to create scoring opportunities.

Messi's decision-making is influenced by his experience, allowing him to size up space and showcase his skills.

He excels at creating scoring opportunities, with former coach Pep Guardiola praising his smart playing style.

Messi's playing style involves walking during games and positioning himself near the opponent's penalty area to create spaces.

He identifies weaknesses in the defense and can open the game from any position, making him a key player.

Messi's influence on the sport goes beyond his individual achievements and statistics.

He has excellent understanding with teammates like Neymar and Mbappe, often descending into center field to find them.

Messi leads in dribbling attempts with a 56.4% success rate.

He won seven FIFA Ballon d'Or awards, led Barcelona to ten La Liga titles, and scored over 700 official goals.

Messi is considered the best player in the world by many, including Bastian Schweinsteiger, due to his exceptional ability to create scoring opportunities.

He strives for victory with passion, driven to create decisive moments on the field.

Argentina relies on Messi for World Cup success.

Messi's decision-making and ability to create scoring opportunities make him the world's top football player.

He has a growth mindset, believing talent can be developed through dedication and hard work.

Messi's success is due to his strong work ethic and numerous awards, including 7 Ballon d'Or awards.

His training routine is highly unique and cerebral, focusing on conserving energy and planning movements to fuel exceptional creativity in gameplay.

Messi's approach to matches involves mental preparation, watching the field to create scoring opportunities, and exceptional spatial awareness.

He excels at creating scoring opportunities, with former coach Pep Guardiola praising his smart playing style.

Messi's playing style involves walking during games and positioning himself near the opponent's penalty area to create spaces.

He identifies weaknesses in the defense and can open the game from any position, making him a key player.

Messi's influence on modern football extends beyond his achievements, reshaping the sport and inspiring admiration both on and off the pitch.

He has huge attacking variability and excellent understanding with his teammates, making him a key figure in modern football.

Messi is a football altruist who plays successfully with partners.

He leads in dribbling, but struggles with implementation, scoring 6 goals with 7.1 xG, remaining a dominant force.

Lionel Messi's influence on modern football extends beyond his achievements, impacting younger players and the sport's overall style of play.

He is widely considered the best player of all time, thanks to his exceptional decision-making on the field.

Messi understands his opponents' strengths and weaknesses to create scoring opportunities and read the game effectively.

He plans penalties carefully and has a unique style of play.

Messi has an exceptional ability to read the game and make decisions.

He receives the ball with prior information, using his movement and passing ability to create scoring opportunities.

Messi's decision-making is influenced by his experience, allowing him to size up space and showcase his skills.

He excels at creating scoring opportunities, with former coach Pep Guardiola praising his smart playing style.

Messi's playing style involves walking during games, creating spaces and often positioning himself near the opponent's penalty area.

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players, known for his exceptional skills and numerous awards, including seven FIFA Ballon d'Or awards.

Title:

Content: What Was Lionel Messi Known For?

News

What Was Lionel Messi Known For?

Lionel Messi, the Argentine football superstar, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Known for his exceptional skills, agility, and goal-scoring ability, Messi has left an indelible mark on the world of football. From his early days at FC Barcelona to his international success with the Argentine national team, Messi’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Early Career and Rise to Prominence
Born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, Messi showed immense talent from a young age. He joined the Barcelona youth academy, La Masia, at the age of 13, where he honed his skills and developed his unique playing style. Messi made his first-team debut for Barcelona in 2004, at the age of 17, and quickly became a key player for the club.

Playing Style and Skills
Messi is known for his exceptional dribbling ability, close ball control, and lightning-fast speed. His low center of gravity allows him to change direction quickly, leaving defenders in his wake. His vision and passing accuracy are also remarkable, enabling him to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. However, it is his goal-scoring prowess that truly sets him apart. Messi has an incredible ability to find the back of the net, often with stunning precision and creativity.

Records and Achievements
Throughout his career, Messi has shattered numerous records and achieved countless milestones. He has won numerous individual awards, including the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or, which he has claimed a record-breaking seven times. Messi has also led Barcelona to numerous domestic and international titles, including ten La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles.

FAQ

Q: What is Messi’s playing position?
A: Messi primarily plays as a forward or attacking midfielder, but his versatility allows him to excel in various positions on the field.

Q: Has Messi ever won the FIFA World Cup?
A: Despite his immense success at the club level, Messi has yet to win the FIFA World Cup with the Argentine national team. However, he has led Argentina to the finals in 2014 and has won several other international tournaments, including the Copa America.

Q: How many goals has Messi scored in his career?
A: As of 2021, Messi has scored over 700 goals in official matches for both club and country.

In conclusion, Lionel Messi is known for his exceptional skills, agility, and goal-scoring ability. His playing style, records, and achievements have solidified his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Whether it is his mesmerizing dribbles or his ability to find the back of the net, Messi’s impact on the sport will be remembered for generations to come.

He has led Barcelona to ten La Liga and four Champions League titles, scoring over 700 official goals for club and country.

Messi's playing style is characterized by exceptional dribbling, speed, and vision, creating scoring opportunities for himself and teammates.

He is considered a true professional, known for his rigorous daily training routine that includes individual activation, strength sessions, recovery work, and nutrition.

Title:

Content: Ben Young has been a part of a World Cup, a Euros and is now helping the greatest player of all time.

Young, 37, is Inter Miami’s Head of Strength and Conditioning with the club boasting a stellar cast list including Lionel Messi plus the likes of Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. But Young - who graduated with a sport and exercise science degree from the University of Gloucestershire - started his career in rugby under Eddie Jones at Saracens before moving into football.

Young worked with the Lionesses at two World Cups, a Euros as the lead physical performance coach and was part of Gareth Southgate ’s set-up at the Qatar World Cup before moving to Miami in January 2023. His role in sport has become irreplaceable, a huge part of football and the likes of Messi - especially at the age of 36 - are benefitting from Young’s expertise as he looks after strength and conditioning, player loading and rehabilitation.

Young said: “Messi is first in, last out, a true professional. He does his own individual activation and strength sessions, he will even be in training the next day after being away in an international camp in Argentina.

"He’s in his rhythm, his routine and that is why he’s at the top and has stayed there. He ticks all the boxes, he pushes himself but also does all his recovery work.

“We always want to make sure that the players can thrive in the most intense parts of the game and you do that by the training we expose them to. We systematically expose the players to various training stimuli that mimic the demand of the game and when appropriate we exceed the game demands to ensure they are completely prepared for the toughest of moments.

“To offset this work we are also continually educating the players on the importance of recovery, nutrition and make sure your recovery is good and sleep in that process to make sure they can keep training and playing at that intensity. Messi is getting individual treatment, massage and recovery which shows the importance of having people close to you who you can rely on.”

Messi’s arrival has made Inter Miami the hottest ticket in town and the world ’s greatest player is helping transform the sport in a way that David Beckham did with La Galaxy. Young said “With the World Cup coming up in 2026, it’s really exciting to be a part of it. Football here is just incredible and the sport is growing so much.

"I personally love America, after the 2015 World Cup, I travelled around North America and always loved it for the show they put on around every sport. I love the country for its different states and different cultures in every state."

Young, a dad of two whose family now live in the States, has great experience having worked at the Football Association and with some of football’s biggest names. But within that comes one of the biggest qualities which is trust. Close relationships are vital for a coach in his field.

Young added: “Without trust, you can’t ask the player to buy in. It’s about meeting the player at the right level and then beginning that coaching relationship of both challenge and support.

“Some athletes want to do absolutely everything they can on and off the field, other players you have to slowly influence by supporting them and adding value into their routine. Once you have trust and buy-in you can start to influence their training to ensure they are achieving their targets.

“Football is getting more and more demanding. The game is getting faster, more intense and the players get through more work in every game.

“So I think all the guys now appreciate the importance of the physical training and unfortunately even the players that do not enjoy the physical work often might become believers after they have an injury. If you were working with only one player and you only had one game per week it would be a fairly simple role, but it can get quickly complex as you have up to 30 players which will be all in different physical states and have different needs.

“Some players will be playing regularly, some maybe regular players off the bench and some might not be playing regularly but need to be ready and 100% when they get called up. In addition, you then add multiple games per week, travel and injuries you can start to understand the complexity of getting and keep a squad fit throughout a gruelling season.

“That’s where it becomes difficult and a challenge, but it is a hugely enjoyable and rewarding one!”

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Messi's presence on the pitch inspires younger players and sets a high standard for professionalism and dedication.

Title:

Content: Messi is like a tyrant in training and he wants to be the best at everything.
Recent Updates
Getty
Koeman said Messi was like a "tyrant" when he trained at Barcelona.
Koeman said: "Messi covered everything.
He was great, he won everything.
Of course, he has a lot of good players around him, but he changes everything.
Because of him, everyone seems to be getting better.
This is not criticism, but observation. "
“I know how good he is, but it ’ s nice to see him up close every day.
Everything you want to teach footballers, to recognise situations, to control the ball under pressure, the speed of the ball, to shoot; with Messi, everything is 10 points.
It's not normal, it's not normal! '
"When we have finishing practice in training, sometimes the players start to relax and get a little messy.
But with Messi, everything is extremely serious, never pretentious, everything is normal.
He always wants to win everything, "he said.
“We ’ re going to do the rounds before training.
If the ball turns 20 laps, then the middle player has to do an extra round.
If this happens three times in a row, the players will line up in two rows, the two people in the middle will walk over and get knocked on their heads and so on. "
"I asked Maisie if that had happened to him.
He said yes, once.
Under his leadership, the old players have never lost in games with young people.
This happened once, and Messi was angry about it for a week.
Really, a tyrant. ”
Koeman admitted that after Messi left the team, some players encountered difficulties in training, such as Barcelona's new No. 10 Fati, did not have the same training intensity.
Koeman said: "When I first became Barcelona coach, I talked to Messi at his home.
What shocked me most was his commitment to football and his interest in it, "he said.
"It was tough at first, and he later apologized for it.
Messi has to know that everything he does is promising, but he's starting to get more and more enthusiastic.
“Macy ’ s performance was perfect.
We do passing and kicking exercises sometimes now and you have to get the ball around the post and shoot it into the small goal.
One day I saw Fati miss a lot because he wasn ’ t paying attention.
But if Messi was still there, he wouldn't have done it.
"Apart from Cruyff, I have never met anyone else who has a player like Messi.
My assistant would sometimes explain these exercises in English, and Messi didn't speak very well.
But a few seconds later he understood, "he said.
"He scored 50 goals last year, 30 goals and 20 assists.
He is a role model for the players.
When we won the Copa del Rey, Messi has won so many trophies that are more important than that, but you can see that the Copa del Rey has really excited him this time.
With these young players, he sees the future of the club.
Those people want to take pictures with him. I've never seen anything like it.
"That's how important he is to Barcelona, he's not here right now and it's a big shock for all," said the Frenchman.

He has won numerous awards, including seven Golden Balls and 42 team trophies, and holds the record for most goals scored in a calendar year.

Title:

Content: December 18, 22: 50
Now officially: Messi is the greatest in history!
Deputy Head of Football Department
Read “SE ” in Telegram Zen
Leo deserved this victory.
World Championship.
Finals
18 Dec, 6: 00 PM.
Lusail Stadium (Лусаил)
Lionel Messi ’ s way to the World Cup is a ready-made drama script that is guaranteed to become the highest-grossing on the planet.
Her plot keeps in suspense from the first to the last minute, makes the main character empathize with even those who are indifferent to him, and in the final breaks into tears.
And the key scenes of the picture were filmed long ago.
Here 18-year-old Leo makes his debut at the World Cup, and a week later — on his birthday — flies out at the stage of the 1 / 8 finals.
At 23 he is going through a crushing blow together with Diego Maradona, who brought Argentina to the 2010 World Cup and got in the playoffs 0: 4 from Germany.
27 in the final.
Then, in 2014, it seemed - so close to the dream no longer get.
Argentina for each tournament brought the top team and was included in the shortlist of favorites, but failed.
And even Messi couldn't fix it.
His emotional departure and return to the national team prove that Leo himself is experiencing the failures of Albiseleste especially hard.
So much so that at the age of 35 for her changed the style of play and manner of behavior - and showed his best football in 16 years of a great career in the national team.
In Qatar, Messi took control of the locker room and turned from a shy genius into a brutal leader who works from behind, without hesitation of rough work, provokes someone else ’ s bench and sends rivals right during a flash interview.
But even with this attitude, the path to the dream begins with a defeat from Saudi Arabia, which almost cost a ticket to the playoffs.
Do you remember the headline “Argentina will be out of the World Cup today if they lose to Mexico ”?
From the triumphal victory over France, they were separated only 23 days!
I can ’ t imagine how Leo felt when he went to the fight with the reigning champion, remembering four unsuccessful finals – three in the Copa America and one World Cup – such things cannot be removed from the memory, especially when you go through it again and again.
And an obvious ultimatum: either you give the match of life and take the cup, or everything you have been going for more than a decade and a half, flies into the abyss.
Lionel Messi with the World Cup.
Photo AFP
During this time, we were amazed at the ease with which Leo did magical things.
And now we are convinced that he is doing the same thing under crazy pressure.
What should be the stress resistance and self-confidence in order to double the penalty shootout in cold blood in the final of the World Cup.
With a leisurely run, a "pijon" pause and a slight blow to the corner opposite to the one in which Lloris jerked?
How do you feel partners not to slow down the second goal attack?
And, most importantly, where to get the strength to clean up in defense, gnawing rebounds, manage attacks and save emotions and strength for a penalty shootout?
Throughout his career, Leo broke world records, collected a unique collection of titles and personal achievements, finally played in a way that many doubted: is it reality or a computer simulator?
But still conceded in the eternal dispute to Maradona - because of the gold of the 1986 World Cup, the main achievement of Diego.
It ’ s Argentina ’ s trophy, but it ’ s thanks to Maradona.
Now you can argue which of them dragged the team to triumph more, delve into advanced statistics and compare the beauty of the goals.
But why?
Seven Golden Balls, dozens of individual awards and 42 team trophies, among which now there is the most - the World Cup.
In Qatar, Leo even before the final finally closed their eternal dispute with Cristiano, and now officially bypassed Maradona.
How lucky we were to see it!
And what a pity that such a victory did not find Diego himself.
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NEWS

Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, inspiring a new generation of players.

He is a role model for young footballers worldwide due to his dedication and passion for the sport.

Title:

Content: General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
Messi offers valuable advice to football players around the world.
Get to know her.
The most famous Argentine football legend Lionel Messi talked about his dreams and ambitions and also gave many tips to footballers to give their best.
Messi said during his meeting with the "Big Time Podcast" program presented by the media Amr Adib channel "MBC": "Football affected my family life because it was always a priority, of course, except for my family was the most important thing and the most important thing first because I love playing football and enjoyed it from a young age."
"It was my dream to become a professional player, I have always lived for the ball and made it the focus of my life, the most important thing is to always be 100% present to perform and give my best in training and games.
Lionel Messi said: "Whatever he wants to be Messi, with sacrifice and physical and mental efforts, it is important for everyone to never give in to their dreams and always do their best to achieve them, certainly during the march there are many obstacles and it is not always easy to reach the dream but they must not stop.

Messi is considered the most dangerous player in the world due to his ability to perform under pressure.

Title:

Content: His time is not over yet.
Messi is the most dangerous player in the world ahead of Halland!
Goal\ GettyImage
Despite the wide brilliance offered by Manchester City forward Erling Halland, statistics and figures do not say he is currently the most dangerous player in the world.
The statistics and figures are on the side of Paris Saint-Germain striker Lionel Messi, who is making a great start so far this season.
The newspaper "Marca" published the report of the site "OPTA" specialized in statistics, which presented some figures that indicate the superiority of the flea over all players currently.
How did Messi beat Halland?
Between the club and the national team, Messi has scored 10 goals and 8 assists, and it seems that he feels comfortable on the pitch and this is reflected not only in his numbers, but also in his signature performances with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Argentine flea improved significantly after the arrival of the new coach Christophe Galtier, who improved the performance of the whole Parisian system.
According to the OPTA website, Messi generates a total of "5.25" dangerous situations per game.
This statistic includes goals, crucial passes, finishes, passes, and quirks that have a direct impact on the team ’ s score.
From it we can say that the great influence of Halland in scoring goals does not put him ahead of Messi, where the flea has some figures different from scoring and industry weighted his position.
The Norwegian forward does not interfere as much in the different processes of play at Manchester City as Messi does with Paris, and Guardiola has talked about this and explained that Halland needs to develop.

He generates 5.25 dangerous situations per game, outperforming top players like Erling Haaland.

Messi's decision-making and ability to create scoring opportunities make him the world's top football player.

Title:

Content: Hello
Blog
Van Gaal almost saved a hopeless match, which enraged Messi.
But most of the meeting Argentina was much better and deserved to win.
Analysis of Vadim Lukomsky.
Argentina reached the semifinals of the world Cup, beating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout.
I think there was everything in this match.
Let ’ s look at the key moves and once again talk about why this is the best game of the tournament.
Scaloni moved to the top three central defenders (and gave the initiative).
I don ’ t think LWH expected it.
Ownership of Argentina in the first matches of the world Cup never fell below 59%.
It was an important element of Leo Messi ’ s effective placement.
First, the more the ball the team has, the more opportunities Leo has to create.
Secondly, the more ball a team has, the less need to think about defensive adaptations under Leo.
Yesterday Lionel Scaloni played on the weaknesses of the opponent - and put a more cautious version of the composition, adapted for large segments of the game without the ball:
The composition of the LVG could also be considered more cautious - the three Gakpo, Bergwein, Depay coach chooses when he wants to counterattack more.
When the Netherlands are going to own the ball before the match, an additional player comes under combination and control in the midfield (for example, Davy Klassen or Steven Bergeis).
Looking ahead, Louis will release Bergeis at half-time when he realizes he has misread Argentina ’ s intent.
As a result, we received two passive wait-and-see plans, but Argentina looked better in this exchange.
First, in a scenario where both teams have few sources of threat, more will almost always have the one Messi plays for.
Secondly, Argentina still managed to force the Netherlands to own the ball more (57% in the half).
The LVG team held the ball, but in a counter-attacking combination of composition and without a clear algorithm of exacerbations.
The most frequent scenario was in which Virgil van Dijk owns the ball, all short options are blocked, and no openings are made behind the back:
Such episodes represented hopelessness, inconsistency in the construction of the attack and the banal unwillingness of the team to play in this way.
From the point of view of organizing a game without a ball against such Holland, Argentina was impeccable.
The problems will go only in the final stage, when the bulk begins with two big forwards.
By the 78th minute (out of Vegorst), the Netherlands had only one shot towards the gate - far from Bergwein.
Argentina at this point has organized itself two handicap goals.
The starting position was clearly in favor of Scaloni.
But it is important to say that it was not about some unique reliability, pressure and displacements within the framework of the scheme in conditions where the opponent checks the defense in all possible ways, but that the coach correctly read an uncomfortable scenario for the opponent.
In this scenario, the defense was hardly tested.
Just with a serious test at the end of the match, the defense of Argentina did not stand, but most of the meeting it was not checked - all because of the simple but effective adaptation of Scaloni.
Messi in the mode of God gave odds to Argentina – and continued to conjure in the second half
Due to the adaptations of Scaloni and LVG, Messi found himself in unusual conditions.
First, less often than usual gets the ball (the whole team owns it less).
Secondly, the Netherlands paid special attention to the transfer of Leo and the organization of a plan for a dense (almost personal) game against him.
The magic of Messi in such conditions should receive even more compliments than usual.
The Dutch held Messi back through a transfer between players and a personal replay to the end.
As a rule, the task fell on the three players - Nathan Ake, Frankie de Jong and Martin de Ron.
They passed Leo.
The one who was with him, tightly played until the end of the episode or to the safe moment when you can pass.
Here are a few examples – the left center defender Ake moved out of the line and went all the way behind Leo to another part of the field:
Here Frankie almost sits behind Leo in the defense center, until he feels that it is possible to safely pass him to Aka:
Here Messi in the zone of De Ron - Martin tightly plays with him the episode:
Either Messi was not allowed to turn around with the ball, or Messi was with the ball, but under pressure, and the opponent had a whole line of five people, which is difficult to cut.
It could be translated into Acuña (but Leo himself quickly became disillusioned with the effectiveness of this option).
The plan was quite workable, but crashed into genius.
In the goal, Leo punished for a rare episode when the conditions described above were not met.
Frankie played with Leo (and missed him), and Ake in the episode, when Messi is not his player, decided to help his partner rather than return to the line.
Only from this position he did not control Leo - and was already late for the episode:
Leo was deployed to the gate, and the Netherlands did not have a single five-man line.
The distances in the defense line were still minimal, but Messi cut it into the zone between the left and the center defender:
The plan to contain Messi was reasonable and worthy of implementation until the moment when Messi was punished for one non-obvious mistake.
In itself, the pass in this episode is genius.
But even more impressive in context is the punishment for a rare episode where Leo felt freer than usual.
At 1: 0, divine Messi events became more frequent.
One of the options - magnet pulls opponents and passes the ball to free partners:
Another option – a fine transfer under maximum pressure brings them to space in a quick attack:
At this stage, Leo was unstoppable.
His confidence was multiplied by a scenario in which the opponent needs to open up and force the selections – Messi regularly eluded and created.
Van Gaal saves the match by moving to the pair Vegorst de Jong (and causes Messi 's fury)
The plan of the LVG to save the match was as primitive as possible, but returned hope to the Netherlands.
The team accurately added to the desperation of the sample of the first 80 minutes.
Louis left the three defenders (now Ake played on the left wing), but, more importantly, released two force forwards – Wout Vegorst and Luc de Jong:
Everything was based on two simple principles.
The first is the advantages that these forwards can give with regular casts / canopies.
The Netherlands did not even try to escalate in other ways.
The team was maximally sharpened for an updated pair of attacks.
The second is an easy area to attack.
Left flank (right for Argentina), where Messi did not exert any pressure (he played like this throughout the match – and there was no problem, but now the Netherlands had a clear understanding of what to do with the ball in his zone).
It was possible without pauses to go into the attack through this zone and build up pressure.
The very fact of the presence of such space helped to make the pressure continuous.
Van Dyck and Ake promoted the ball and helped to gain a foothold on the other third, from where exacerbations followed.
Then everything is simple - two attackers in the penalty box for casts:
Very radical ratios were in moments when the defenders of the Netherlands remained ahead of the standards:
Statistics from the 80th minute are eloquent: possession of 73% in favor of the Netherlands, 4: 0 in punches and 6: 1 in riding duels.
The recipe is as primitive as possible, but gave a huge amount of pressure through constant checks with large forwards.
At a minimum, this led to chaos and dangerous standards, at a maximum – immediately to a threat.
Argentina was unable to regain territory or hold the ball.
Substitutions of LVG superimposed on not the most successful actions of Scaloni at this stage.
The Argentine coach released Leandro Paredes (clearly not the best player in a situation where there are many rebounds near the box) and left the two lowest central defenders (Otamendi and Martinez), replacing Romero with Pessella.
Van Gaal ’ s strategy was definitely effective, but angered Messi: “I ’ m telling you, Van Gaal throws dust in his eyes that he plays good football and then starts throwing the ball at the highest players. ”
Strong words from the captain of Argentina, who rarely allows himself so much emotion in post-match interviews (instant criticism of this level from him was awarded only by the judges at the Copa 2019).
Louis turned over a difficult match, but yesterday really did not play “good football ”.
At the starting stage, there was an ideological game with the ball; then - a primitive but effective pile; and in extra time - waiting for a penalty.
Argentina choked in extra time, the Netherlands responded with fouls
The problem for Holland in the extra time is the maximum open composition if they are not ready to risk as much as at the end of the regular time.
In such conditions, the team lined up in 4-4-2 and used fouls to deter the opponent, if somewhere according to the scheme there was a failure:
Argentina choked (73% ownership), but the highlights came as a result of standards.
That is, they took exactly the amount of pressure, and not a specific reception.
But it was the Argentines who were closer to the goal at this stage.
Tactically, Scaloni ’ s team outplayed the opponent (sometimes explicitly, sometimes slightly) at any point except the end of regular time.
It was bright emotional, unusual for LVG and wildly radical, so it was well remembered, but objectively the Argentines deserved a pass and a penalty shootout.
* * *
We watched one of the most meaningful matches of the year (can we say in the history of the World Cup or is it too early?).
It had everything - a tactical surprise at the beginning, a total reversal of the course of the meeting through substitutions, the thinnest pass of the tournament against the genius, a bunch of primitive shots at giants, a grandiose penalty in the last seconds and a drama in the penalty shootout.
That is, football of a variety of styles, scenarios of a variety of genres, tactical subtleties at all stages.
This is the best match of the tournament
Messi is furious: ran over Van Gaal for words before the match, quarreled with Davids and sent Vegorst
Messi's amazing tournament.
And it's not just about the game.
Photo: Gettyimages.ru / Elsa; REUTERS / Kai Pfaffenbach

He has a growth mindset, believing talent can be developed through dedication and hard work.

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The growth mindset...
How Messi trained his mind to become the "best in history"
© AFP 2022 / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV Lionel Messi
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Argentine football legend Lionel Messi ’ s victory at the World Cup in Qatar is seen as the most important step in his career and strengthens his position with most fans as one of the greatest players in history, or even the best of them all.
Leo Messi, 35, has a full list of football titles, both at the team level including the local, continental and international championships, and at the team level including the Copa America, the Finalissima Cup and finally the most prestigious and expensive tournament, the World Cup.
World Cup 2022
An exciting scene repeated in the World Cup of Qatar, his heroes Maradona and Messi
And, of course, at the individual level, there are several records engraved in his name, in addition to the awards, including "Balloon Dor" or the best player in the world award granted by the magazine "France Football" annually, and Messi received 7 times as the most crowned player.
But Messi ’ s distinction by the international press and the public with the nickname “GOAT ” or“ Goat ”, which means “Greatest Player of All Time ”, was never the goal of the Argentine star, but his focus was on something much simpler.
Messi told France Football magazine last year: “To be the best or not, it doesn ’ t change anything for me.
I never tried to be that. ”
Instead of dreaming of football stardom as a child, Leo focused on achieving smaller goals, completing one after another before moving on to the next goal.
I fought for my dreams.
At first, you were supposed to be a professional player, then I tried to outdo myself and achieve new goals every year.
Lionel Messi
The Argentine football star
This approach is familiar, reminiscent of psychologist Carol Dweck ’ s theory of a “growth mindset, ” which posits that talent is only a starting point.
Dweck wrote in her 2015 study “Growth ”:
“In a growth mindset, people believe that their core abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. ”
© AFP 2022 This set of file images shows then-Argentine Paris Barcelona striker Lionel Messi reacting while winning the Ballon d'Or (top, left to right)
This set of file images shows then-Argentine Paris Barcelona striker Lionel Messi reacting while winning the Ballon d'Or (top, left to right)
There are non-sporting champions and success story holders who have formed their own version of a “growth mindset, ” such as billionaire Mark Cuban and Hollywood star Will Smith.
Studies show that students who acquired a “growth mindset ” by teachers, were able to improve their test scores more than their peers over time.
Of course, Messi has always been a talented athlete, even as a small child and a growth hormone deficient person at the age of 11, but he constantly insists that a strong work ethic was the key to his continued success.
Messi breaks a world record outside of football
Leo spends long days training to keep improving on the pitch.
Although he has long been recognized as a world star and a historical legend, it took him nearly 16 years and five World Cups to finally get the prize he had always dreamed of.
Messi made a huge income during his 18-year career.
He is the best paid athlete in the world for 2022, making almost $130 million this year, according to Forbes.
That includes a basic salary of about $75 million from his club, Paris Saint-Germain, and $55 million from other off-field income.
In other words, being the best is also very profitable.
© AFP 2022 / FRANCK FIFELionel Messi raises the World Cup at Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar
Lionel Messi lifts World Cup at Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar
In his interview with France Football, Messi stressed that being among the game ’ s greats at all was never his original goal, but rather the result of working hard to amplify innate talent over many years.
"For me, just being able to be among the best players in the world is more than enough.
It ’ s something I didn ’ t dare imagine or dream about. ”
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Messi's success is due to his strong work ethic and numerous awards, including 7 Ballon d'Or awards.

His training routine is highly unique and cerebral, focusing on energy conservation and careful planning, reflecting his exceptional gameplay creativity.

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Content: Lautaro about Messi: “Leo has written his name in the history of football.
Even in training, it feels like he ’ s doing another sport. ”
Lautaro Martinez spoke about his attitude to Lionel Messi.
“I am his friend and comrade.
We are talking about a player who has inscribed his name in the history of football.
Even in training, it seems like he is engaged in a completely different sport.
He's making up things you've never seen.
He is a real beast in competitions, he never wants to lose, ” said the striker of Inter and Argentina.
Messi and Martinez as part of the Argentina national team won the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, the Finalissima, as well as the Copa América in 2021.
Materials on the topic

Messi's approach to matches involves mental preparation, watching the field to create scoring opportunities, and exceptional spatial awareness.

Title:

Content: EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea's Marc Cucurella on what makes Lionel Messi the best, the quality he'd steal from Erling Haaland and Cesar Azpilicueta's dodgy dress sense

Cucurella has already played alongside some stellar names in his career after featuring for Barcelona, Brighton and Chelsea but is in no doubt at all about which player is the very best.

The defender came through Barcelona's famed La Masia academy and naturally picked the star everyone there looked up to.

"Lionel Messi, because for me he is the No. 1 in the world. I played with him at Barcelona and I trained with him a lot," he told GOAL on Simply The Best. "The most incredible thing is that when you watch the game he’s walking a lot, [but] he’s watching everything, watching the space. And then when he receives the ball he has the information and the gaps in his mind [so] he is ready to ‘kill’ the other team."

Cucurella left Spain for Brighton in a move which has seen him come up against some of the game's best strikers in the Premier League, including a certain Erling Haaland.

When quizzed about which attribute he'd steal from any player, and what it would be, Cucurella picked out the Manchester City ace and one particular strength the Norwegian possesses.

"Maybe Erling Haaland. Not the skill, but the power, because he always stays in the [right] position to score a lot of goals," he explained. "Maybe he doesn’t have [just] one best attribute, but I think he [can] always smell where the goal is.”

Cucurella has also had the lowdown some of his Chelsea team-mates, revealing which player is the best dressed at Stamford Bridge.

"Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He loves fashion, the moda, he has a lot of good outfits to come to training," said the defender. "[But] the worst dressed is Cesar Azpilicueta, because his clothes are what grandfathers use! [laughs] His style is for old people."

Check out the full episode of Simply The Best on GOAL's YouTube channel.

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He excels at creating scoring opportunities, with former coach Pep Guardiola praising his smart playing style.

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Content: Qatar World Cup: Messi among the most walkers during the games but he is the smartest!
Lionel Messi (Getty Images)
The Argentine star, Lionel Messi, has been among the most walkable players throughout most of the games, but this trait did not prevent him from being the smartest among his peers and breaking the opponent's defenses to lead "Albizelici" to the quarter-finals of the Qatar Football Cup.
According to IFA statistics, Messi was included in the top ten on the list of the most successful players, as shown by the four matches he played in the World Cup.
The numbers don ’ t seem to matter to the best player in the world seven times, he has won the best player of the game twice, so it ’ s safe to say that what happens doesn ’ t affect the effectiveness of the flea.
He contributed three goals, including two decisive goals in a 2 – 0 win over Mexico in the second round of the group stage, Australia 2 – 1 in the final of his 1,000th match of his career when he scored for the first time in the knockout rounds, and missed a penalty against Poland 2 – 0.
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand, an analyst for BT Sport, said Messi's performance against Australia was "the best we have seen at the World Cup so far, by far".
Messi passed in a game during which he deciphered the defense code of "Sucrose" by opening the scoring and shooting 6 balls on goal, 8.59 km, in the second lowest rate of the basic player, including 4.75 km walk.
On the other hand, the BBC sports channel indicated before the match of Argentina against Australia that Messi occupies one of the top three places as more than traversing the areas of   Sierra: walked in succession in his first three games 4.99 km, 4.73 km and 4.62 km!
Is Missy lazy, or is he smarter than the others?
His former coach and current England ’ s Manchester City Spaniard Pep Guardiola has made it clear that the Paris Saint-Germain star isn ’ t just walking around doing nothing.
Messi, at his peak with his former Barcelona side before his move to the Parisian capital club, does not feel lethargic even when he walks.
Guardiola said in a documentary about the Argentine player entitled "This is football" broadcast by Amazon: "He (Messi), watching, he walks.
That's what I like most.
Not out of the game, but part of it. ”
"He moves his head: right and left and then left and right.
He knows exactly what will happen.
But his head is always like this (Guardiola turns his head left and right).
He is in constant motion. ”
“He ’ s not running, but he ’ s always watching what ’ s happening.
Look for weaknesses in the defense.
After five or 10 minutes, he has the map in his eyes, in his mind to know exactly what the spaces and the scene are. ”
Guardiola said: “It ’ s like being in a forest and I have to fight to survive.
"He knows that if he moves here or there or there, he will have more room to attack."
But that doesn ’ t mean Messi doesn ’ t get involved when the rhythm of the game challenges him, as Ferdinand said after the end of the Australia game that he “almost suggests to everyone that he wasn ’ t interested in what was happening, but suddenly he comes back alive ” and“ what he can do is open the game from any position on the pitch.
That ’ s the difference between him and the others. ”
This phenomenon is not related to the age of the 35-year-old Messi, but is a feature that extends over many years, as the figures highlighted what he has been doing since the World Cup in Russia 2018 and before Brazil 2014, where it is clear that he is walking, but not lazy.
Messi walks more during games than any other player on the planet, but he also has time to smile despite the intensity of the game.
Research has shown that Messi ’ s effectiveness lies in creating spaces and spending time in locations closest to the opponent ’ s penalty area and most importantly on the pitch.
Luke Bourne, the data maker at FC Barcelona, asked during a press conference to study the analysis: "Can we say that Messi gets a lot of space by not playing?
“That ’ s exactly what the studies show. ”
Only the Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, 34, beat Messi in Qatar in this field, passing 5202 m to Saudi Arabia, compared to 4998 m to Messi against Mexico.
During the match against Argentina and Poland Messi walked 4736m versus 4829m for Lewandowski, so some wondered: Messi is tired or just a player who used to walk instead of running?
Arab Podcast 48

Messi's playing style involves walking during games and positioning himself near the opponent's penalty area to create spaces.

He identifies weaknesses in the defense and can open the game from any position, making him a key player.

Messi's influence on modern football extends beyond his achievements, reshaping the sport and inspiring admiration both on and off the pitch.

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Content: Advertisement

Published 07:37 IST, July 22nd 2024

Inter Miami Pays Tribute to Lionel Messi in an Emotional Post For His Impact on and off the Pitch

Inter Miami honors Lionel Messi, recognizing his profound impact beyond the pitch, reshaping lives and inspiring admiration through his talent and character.

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Lionel Messi runs after scoring against Orlando City during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Image: AP
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07:37 IST, July 22nd 2024

He has huge attacking variability and excellent understanding with his teammates, making him a key figure in modern football.

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Content: Argonautics
Blog
Messi shines in PSG: promotes, sharpens, scores.
No one else thinks he ’ s only in Barca.
After a difficult debut season in Paris, Lionel Messi returns to the top level and performance.
He is the best assistant of the top 5 leagues (9 assists, the same as Kevin de Bruyne), scored 6 + 9 goals + pass (1.4 scoring actions in 90 minutes), only Erling Holand (17 + 3), Robert Lewandowski (12 + 4) and Neymar (9 + 7) scored more than him.
In the Champions League, everything is also great: he is second in goal + pass with 4 + 3, pursuing the same Holland with 6 + 2.
Of course, Messi ’ s gaming influence goes far beyond the main statistics.
It seems that this season he finds harmony between the promotion of the ball, creation and completion.
In short: what didn ’ t happen last season?
Reminder: in the League 1-2021 / 22 Messi scored only six goals.
In League 1-2022 / 23, he has already reached this point, although less than a third of the season has passed.
In terms of scoring qualities (the expected threat and implementation) Messi really played objectively worse than in Barcelona.
Both the overall decline in the number of moments and the weak completion affected the performance.
In terms of 90 minutes, Messi in PSG -2021 / 22 scored only 0.25 goals per game - his worst result in his career was 0.46 goals in the 2007 / 08 season.
In the next 13 seasons for Barça, he never went below 0.78 (2019 / 20), in eight cases he broke the goal mark every 90 minutes.
In contrast to the last seasons at Barça, it is noticeable that PSG has badly deteriorated implementation (by the way, the best in the world), the expected threat (xG) has also decreased significantly.
At the same time, there was no regression in the creation and promotion at all.
Only in four seasons of La Liga for Barça Messi did more assists than in the first year for PSG (14).
According to the promotion metrics of the ball, Leo completely surpassed the performance of the late Barca.
It is expected that Messi was strongly criticized for weak performance, while rarely noting his power in other stages.
Even Karim Benzema stood up for Messi – he knows more than anyone that you can be very useful without heads: “The lack of heads is tolerated due to the period of adaptation.
Better watch what Messi is doing on the field.
“Those who criticize Leo now don ’ t know anything about football. ”
PSG partner Ander Herrera also actively defended: “They demand 50 goals per season from Messi – it ’ s difficult.
Do not forget that Messi hit the bars and crossbars 10 times, setting a League 1 record of all time.
10 more heads and everything would be better. ”
However, in Barça there were seasons with 11, 12, and 14 bars – we checked.
In the system of Mauricio Pochettino Messi received the role of a very free ten: cruised along the entire central axis, descended to the center of the field, sometimes shifted to the right flank.
In the center of the PSG midfield there were always more destroyers than ball engines, and this engine was Leo Messi.
The Argentine guaranteed constant progress, and he was very good at it.
But in the final stage there were enough problems.
First, the very realization – Messi was objectively bad.
Secondly, the long search for a connection with Neymar and Mbappe.
Pochettino blamed the greased preseason because of the Euro and the Copa América and explained this misunderstanding in the first half of the season.
Mbappe said: “It ’ s a pity that we didn ’ t play until April 2022. ”
Third, microtraumas obviously affected the game tone.
The very period of adaptation with household nuances also affected – Pochettino said that Leo had problems with this.
Fourth, the Pochettino system.
The coach built a strong frame to protect against the loss of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar.
The attacking foundation remained flimsy.
From the center of the midfield, no one could constantly be included in the line of attack as Messi came down for the ball.
Extreme defenders could not constantly rise to someone else ’ s front – the 4-X-X scheme a priori imposes more defensive obligations than the positions of the laterals in the 3-X-X.
Pochettino, if you want, is easy to justify: well, how else to play with such a set of attackers?
The elite three should have enough creativity to get the result in the attack.
All the rest are needed for insurance and good protection in the seven field.
But now we see an example with coach Christophe Galtier - PSG with Messi, Neymar and Mbappe and attacks more diverse, and defends no worse than the version of Pochettino.
Galtier corrected the role of Messi: plays deeper, but still very much sharpens and beats
The most important fact about the attacking trio, which we noted earlier, is the clear distribution of roles.
Mbappe is a moving forward scorer, Neymar is the master of the last pass, Messi is the ball promotion machine.
The promotion this season is ideologically different from the promotion in the past.
Under Pochettino, the strikers of PSG freely descended to the center of the field and in the Brownian movement had to come up with a moment, if desired, connecting partners (there was usually little desire).
Now, due to the clear distribution, the attacking pattern of PSG can be easily simplified to the following scheme: descending Messi into the center of the field - finding Neymar between the lines - passing on the opening behind the backs of the defenders of Mbappe.
From the main pattern comes a large number of relevant deviations of varying degrees of popularity.
Neymar can: wait for the incoming Leo and roll under attack from the support zone, wait and launch the combinational carousel, give on the left flank Nuna Mendes to stretch the opponent ’ s defense, go in the stroke, give a pass to Vitinje, who rose from the center of the field when Messi went down there.
Then Leo starts the attack and hits himself 15 seconds later.
Here comes down, while his place in the top three of the attack is taken by Vitinha.
Below are the heat maps of Messi ’ s actions in the season-2021 / 22 and 2022 / 23.
Pay attention to the red zones in the opponent ’ s penalty area and in the central semicircle on his half of the field – this was not the case before.
Messi began to descend even lower - normally, given that now there is a central midfielder who rises in the line of attack and maintains balance.
At the same time, Messi often touches the ball in the penalty area - it means that his advances are not choked, and after a pass from the depths, he can threaten himself, turning on and at the completion stage.
Another detail: there is no skew to the right flank, Messi plays centrally.
It works.
Below is a list of statistical indicators, where Lionel Messi ranks first in Europe.
Not in PSG, not in Ligue 1, but in all the top-5 leagues.
As you can see, Messi retains a huge attacking variability: both in the end (strikes), and in the creation (assists, pre-shock actions, passes to the penalty), and in the promotion (promoting passes).
In many other metrics – from the total weight of punches in xG to passes in the final third – Messi is in the top 5 / top 10.
Think about it: Messi makes more promotional programs (both in absolute value and in terms of 90 minutes) than, for example, Joshua Kimmich and Tony Kroos - recognized masters of business, with whom brilliant passes forward are associated.
They are really beautiful in this role.
But Messi still bypasses them, while dominating other stages of the attack.
Luis Enrique, who coached Messi at Barça, spoke beautifully of Leo ’ s multitasking influence: “If Messi plays a nine, he ’ s the best nine in the world.
If eight is the best eight in the world.
If six is the best six. ”
Leo himself reflected on the theme of the difficult first season: “Hard times – sometimes it seemed like I couldn ’ t find myself.
Everything is fine now: I feel comfortable at PSG, we have a great atmosphere in the dressing room, I like my partners and the team ’ s performance.
I ’ m enjoying my game again. ”
An important detail of Messi ’ s success is his progress in team arrangements with other PSG players.
Galtier beautifully said the obvious thing: “The peculiarity of Messi is that he really likes to play partners.
He is a football altruist. ”
• Work with Neymar and Mbappe – top.
No screenshots will reveal the magic of Leo and Ney – just watch PSG matches and enjoy, it ’ s pure football.
Mbappe sometimes makes mistakes in short drawings (and Messi, too, he is not a robot), but with Kilian sometimes there are beautiful attacks.
The most stable option is to pass Messi behind the backs of the defenders (this is how Lilla scored in the seventh second of the match), the main highlight is Messi ’ s goal against Ajaccio after passing Mbappe with his heel.
Neymar defended Messi last season, and after a powerful start of the new campaign only referred to the old words: “Leo remains Leo.
He will never change, that player always makes a difference. ”
• Excellent understanding with the new center of the Verratti field – Vitinha.
About the newcomer "Porto" has already been said - very clearly rises to the penalty area, reacting to the descents of Messi in midfield.
Verratti became much better to beat Leo in the wall, and if necessary, Marco flies off into the defense line, pulling the opponent higher and looking for a corridor for Messi to pass into the center of the field.
Verratti originally praised Messi: “His game is the simple things that make you fall in love with football. ”
• Improved communication with the laterals of Nunu Mendesh (left) and Ashraf Hakimi (right).
Mendes is the regular addressee for diagonal passes from the bottom of the center of the field closer to the edge of the box.
Against “Lille ” together built a beautiful goal.
It is too early to talk about the similarity with the legendary bunch of Messi and Alba in Barcelona – the Portuguese does not have enough reading the game for constant runs into the penalty box under Messi ’ s scoops from the support zone.
But Mendes gives great shots.
And Leo fell in love with Mendes so much that he put him in second place in the voting for the Raymond Cop prize for the best player under 21 (only Gavi is higher).
Hakimi is the addressee for Messi ’ s vertical gears from the depth behind the backs of the defenders.
Here is an example from the match against Ajaccio, where Messi first pushes the ball into the attack, and then sharpens the pass on accelerating Hakimi.
Can Messi get any better?
The most obvious request is help with getting out of the pressure.
Neymar stands out from the attacking trio: he regularly descends to the penalty area to quickly run out into a counterattack through a pass or bold dribbling.
Mbappe was integrated in a peculiar way - in some matches of Ligue 1, he served as a kind of target who should take casts from the penalty box.
It didn ’ t work very well, the central defenders pushed from behind.
Messi enters the game only with a counterattack.
Its resistance under pressure and dribbling are quite relevant to help with overcoming the pressure.
In addition, a difficult dilemma for defenders: either to rise very high for Leo (with personal guardianship), or pass to midfielders who will have to follow another player (with zone pressure).
Another point is the effectiveness of dribbling.
Yes, Messi leads the most in the top 5 leagues, but the percentage of successful attempts is 56.4.
This is a good result, considering the number of strokes is even excellent, but we are talking about the absolute top level.
In the last 5 seasons, the Argentine figure has never fallen below 59.8%, so this year Leo has slightly sagged.
Messi goes a lot in the stroke in the central axis, so the stakes increase: success - the chance to immediately make the attack more dangerous, failure - the risk of getting a quick attack in response.
Against tenacious supports (for example, Camara from AS Monaco) Leo sometimes does not have enough acceleration and sharpness, and because of this, PSG can get burned.
Playing without the ball is an understandable point that PSG simply accepts and seeks adaptation.
The main of them is the extension of laterals for pressing the extreme defenders of the opponent, we analyzed this tool here.
Another important point in contrast to Messi ’ s weak defensive performance is Neymar ’ s valuable defensive work.
Due to the forced transition after injuries of the central defenders from 3-4-3 to 4-4-2 rhombus, PSG became more difficult.
Given the characteristics of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar without the ball, PSG is much easier to defend with a five in line, not a four.
Messi ’ s losses in the middle of the field look even more dangerous – less insurance in the back.
The pressure is also sagging: Hakimi and Mendes can no longer move as before.
So for Leo, and especially for the team, returning to 3-X-X will be useful.
Finally, implementation!
Yes, in the new season with her there are problems – Messi scored 6 goals in Ligue 1 with 7.1 xG.
This is an unpleasant result for any attack player, and certainly disappointing for Leo, who himself set records for anomalous implementation.
Probably, even geniuses are not able to ignore regression to the average.
But with these nuances, Messi claims to be the best in the world.
Ahead of the most important (Leo himself said that the last) attempt to take the world Cup with Argentina and a new quest to fight for the Champions League with PSG.
A difficult journey, but the more interesting it is to follow Messi – he is still very good.
Telegram channel of the author
Neymar is being praised a lot for playing without the ball.
Fair enough?
Photo: Gettyimages.ru / Octavio Passos / Stringer, David Ramos; globallookpress.com / Panoramic / Keystone Press Agency, Naoki Morita / AFLO; REUTERS / Sarah Meyssonnier TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY, Pedro Nunes

Messi is a football altruist who plays successfully with partners.

He leads in dribbling, but struggles with implementation, scoring 6 goals with 7.1 xG, remaining a dominant force.

Lionel Messi's influence on modern football extends beyond his achievements, impacting younger players and the sport's overall style of play.

He is widely considered the best player of all time, thanks to his exceptional decision-making on the field.

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Content: Jump directly to the content
INCREDIBLE

‘He’s a football miracle’ – Lionel Messi labelled as ‘best player of all time’ and is one way from emulating fellow icon Diego Maradona, who watched ‘from football heaven’

A ‘football miracle’, a ‘joy’ to watch, a ‘hero’, a ‘star’ and the ‘best player of all time’.

Those are just some of the superlatives used to describe Argentina and football icon Lionel Messi, who spearheaded them into another World Cup final.

talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham was left in awe of the 35-year-old who is on the cusp of finally winning football’s holy grail.

Messi notched in his fifth goal in Qatar – his 11th overall across his five World Cups – as Argentina breezed past Croatia to set up a final meeting against either France or Morocco.

From being sent off on his international debut within a minute against Hungary in 2005, Messi is one game away from eternal glory.

It will be the second time Messi will have featured in the showpiece match after Germany edged out the South American nation in the 2014 final.

Durham says Diego Maradona would have been watching on from ‘football heaven’ – purring over his successor’s dazzling display.

And in what will likely be his last appearance in the global tournament, Durham was nothing but effusive in his praise for the Paris Saint-Germain forward.

Speaking after the 3-0 victory against the 2018 runners-up, Durham said: “What a privilege to be here, what a joy to witness this.

“Lionel Messi, sent off on his Argentina debut, he saw red 30 seconds into his Argentina debut. But he recovered quite well, didn’t he?

“He scored on his World Cup debut in 2006, couldn’t excel under Maradona in South Africa in 2010, in 2014 he was voted the best player at the World Cup.

“But he couldn’t overcome the Germans in the final, 2018 the coach was visibly looking to Messi on the pitch to make decisions in game, it just didn’t work.

“Messi considered retirement from the Albiceleste, then he captained Argentina to Copa [America] glory last summer – their first trophy in 28 years, continental champions.

“Are they going to follow it up with World Cup glory? Their first World Cup since 1986 when Diego Armando Maradona was the talisman.

“And now with Maradona watching from football heaven, it’s Messi who is the main man, he’s the hero, he’s the star, and the fans love him.

“Can he take the World Cup back to Argentina? Well whether he does or not, Lionel Messi has richly entertained us tonight, and all his career.

“Quick feet, injections of pace, strength belying his small stature and frame, fouled constantly but never injured, it’s a medical miracle. He’s a football miracle.

“And now all the Argentina players that have gone over to their fans, gathered all in a line, arms around each other, bouncing up and down in celebration, and Lionel Messi is right in the middle of that.

“He’s never looked so happy playing for his country in his life, at times it was a chore, and at times it was a burden too much for Messi to carry.

“But right now he seems happy, the management structure is right, the teammates are right, everything is right for Lionel Messi to get it right in this World Cup.

“So far, so good. For Messi, goals and assists they just keep racking up, it’s more than the numbers though, it’s what we call the eye test.

“Just watch Lionel Messi play, this is the joy of football I’ve been talking about for a couple of years now.

“This is what it’s all about, this is entertainment, the very best player of all time, for me, he doesn’t need a trophy to back it up.

“But Messi – lifting the World Cup – wouldn’t that make a great picture to frame for his mantelpiece alongside his record seven Ballon d’Or trophies.

“Messi makes you smile when you watch him play the beautiful game, more beautifully than anyone has ever played it before.

“Stand up for the main man – the magic man – he’s had to follow Maradona for his country, and he’s done it.

“[Johan] Cruyff and Ronaldinho and others at Barcelona, he’s done it. But he’s done it with pure football joy in his heart.”

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Messi understands his opponents' strengths and weaknesses to create scoring opportunities and read the game effectively.

Title:

Content: Game On

Grand walk into the sunset

As Argentina lock horns tonight against the defending champions — France — a victory at the Lusail Stadium would hand Messi the 'elusive' trophy in his highly decorated career

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Tonight, you are going to see Lionel Messi play for Argentina, one last time. If you had planned something else in advance, cancel it. For this is not a show which should be seen as a replay but in real-time. This 35-year-old man has not shocked the world by announcing retirement but has gone one level above greatness — he is not going to hang on needlessly.

Argentina versus defending champions France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final is the script which could not have gotten better. Almost everything has been written about the World Cup till now, from how Qatar would be a lousy host to how the heat would bug players! Perhaps, the ignorant forgot, the stadia in the desert venues of Qatar were temperature-controlled with solar panels. The heat generated was by the 22 men on the field in each match, wanting to grab the Adidas ball and bang it into the goal.

The finale boils down to the harsh realities of how only one team can win. In the normal course, a final preview will be a SWOT analysis and then throwing in incidents which give one team an edge. If you are going to use this as a template for predicting this final between Les Bleus and Argentina, it would be stupid.

Messi is great and his greatness never needs a fresh endorsement from anyone, be it fans, former internationals or those who froth on TV mikes. They are paid to talk, sometimes banal stuff, sometimes brilliant stuff. The best commentator, as an expert, will do minimal talking, for the football viewer is knowledgeable and discerning. From the average fan who watches the sport every four years during the World Cup to the daily fan who watches club football non-stop, Messi is a staple diet.

That you will not be getting your staple diet from now on while watching Argentina play as a national team will take time to reconcile. We often hear talk that India must get back the Kohinoor Diamond from Britain. How stupid is that! To think the Kohinoor will be returned is like asking Britain — a nation today in turmoil — to atone for the atrocities perpetuated in India during their Raj.

The Kohinoor Diamond will stay in Britain and Messi the diamond will return to Argentina. Whether he takes the World Cup trophy in his luggage or not, we will know by 10:45 pm IST on Sunday night. If the trophy heads back to Paris, you cannot complain, for France has been sensational this time despite injury scares. If France has done so well with some left home, and Karim Benzema being readied for the final after his injury break, the best European side has shown they are unique.

Two reasons, one is Kylian Mbappé, who will turn 24 on December 20, and manager Didier Deschamps. These two men have been stand-outs, in every sense. Mbappé has proved he is speed and lightning and can make life miserable for anyone. The best part is France has an array of stars in all departments, with Deschamps being the shrewdest manager at the wheel.

It would be no exaggeration to state, Messi will make this final day of the World Cup his own, win or lose. We heard he has aged, we heard he has become slow, and we heard he has flopped multiple times for Argentina in the World Cups. Maybe, a lot of it is true. By deciding to hang up his boots, again something he decided in such a simple manner by talking to an Argentine media house, Messi did not want that to become the news but Argentina winning the semi-final.

Champions come in various hues. Some wear emotions on their sleeves, while some stay low profile. Messi has many meanings. Leo, his first name, means Lion. Yes, he is a lion, began as a cub and then grew big. With another Lion, his manager, Scaloni. Their tango for Argentina has exhibited Argentine flavour and fervour. If Messi has quit before the final, it shows how much clarity is there in his head and heart.

He has attempted this again and again, and the last fling will be so potent, it's going to make everyone weep, cry, and hysterical. Why? Sport is about emotions, how champions give you a high without needing to be on substance. In Qatar, where even Budweiser beer is banned in the stadia, you could get high on Messi. Well, he is going to provide you with that final snort, that final sniff, the final moments. It could be 90 minutes plus injury time. Or, in a worst-case scenario, extra time and then penalties.

Messi is prepared for all this and so is Argentina. All those who are critical of Messi and have done this GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate mindlessly will one day realise how immature they were. Each champion has a place in our heart and head. Leave aside Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Junior. They flopped badly this time, but Messi did not.

Goal scoring, assists, penalties, all that you can see from stats. What you need to see in Messi is much more. If you haven't, till now, do it on Sunday. The way he walks, not runs, his body twists and turns, how he has his eyes on the ball, how he sizes up space in a three-dimensional sense and then showcases his skills will be there to see. It would, perhaps, surprise you, he still plans how to take the penalty. It's not like going and blasting the ball. Each goalie has his way of reacting. The way Messi flummoxed goalie Livakovic of Croatia was well-planned. Messi had chatted with his think-tank, before the match. They had understood, Livakovic liked to see players taking the penalty prepare and then fire the ball with their foot. Messi decided that he would take the penalty so fast, with a short and sharp run-up, and boom, it bulged the top right corner.

If at this age, Messi is planning penalties, you can well imagine how other teams flopped with the dead ball, Spain being a classic example. Messi has been cerebral and, at the same time, conservative. Those who have studied his movements in a computer-based analysis, and even some singers who have observed Messi, know that he does not waste energy. No needless running six miles in one match.

If you were to compare him and Mbappé, it's a stark contrast. Age-wise, they are different, though the Frenchman is supposed to be Messi's successor. Frankly speaking, when comparing legends, to say one resembles the other is bizarre. Each legend in each sport has his or her own style. Comparisons are kind of fictitious.

Messi does not run to run empty tanks on his energy levels. He moves, darts and is present at the right place at the right time. You can call it "assists" in pure football jargon but if you look at it from an aesthetic point of view, Messi has been Messi. No comparison with anyone, not even the Late Diego Maradona, who led Argentina to the last World Cup win in 1986. Messi has seen Maradona as a coach and would have learnt a lot. That he chose to say goodbye to Argentina is a sign of being selfless, not selfish. He knows, five World Cup campaigns are enough, though in club football he sees his continuance simply because he has a lot left in him. His brand value cannot be defined or determined by US dollars or Euros. Messi is priceless like the Kohinoor and to fix a price for him, only football businessmen will do, not the fans.

This edition of the World Cup has been more about break than make, where reputations were blown to bits in the deserts of Qatar which provided the best ambience and infrastructure. Budweiser beer ban in stadia, strict laws relating to not wearing "One Love" arm bands and so on sounded harsh. Looking back, minus lager louts, this World Cup was happy and there was no violence. You can say that FIFA was not transparent with all its deals pertaining to Qatar. Did that in any way stop the football from becoming effervescent? No.

Hours from now, the 22 best men will descend on the green turf. One man, Messi, wearing the blue and white No.10 jersey, will be the cynosure. It has been the case for 16 years now in World Cups. Will Messi become Lion King or will he be remembered as a man with multiple Ballon d' Ór trophies in his cupboard but not the biggest trophy?

Mentally, Messi will be best prepared for the final, as the biggest decision has already been made, he will walk away from the tunnel with that one last wave. Whether he wins the trophy or not, he is going to leave billions of fans in tears, across various time zones, on Sunday. Will Messi shed tears? He has to, for you cannot walk away from your national side just like that. This is why the World Cup, which takes place once every four years, is so big. You have to compliment FIFA for keeping the purity of the World Cup intact. How to say thanks to Messi? Don't bottle up your emotions, weep, cry, or celebrate. And watch No 10 walk into the sunset.

Next Story

He plans penalties carefully and has a unique style of play.

Messi has an exceptional ability to read the game and make decisions.

He receives the ball with prior information, using his movement and passing ability to create scoring opportunities.

Messi's decision-making is influenced by his experience, allowing him to size up space and showcase his skills.

He excels at creating scoring opportunities, with former coach Pep Guardiola praising his smart playing style.

Messi's playing style involves walking during games and positioning himself near the opponent's penalty area to create spaces.

He identifies weaknesses in the defense and can open the game from any position, making him a key player.

Messi's influence on the sport goes beyond his individual achievements and statistics.

He has excellent understanding with teammates like Neymar and Mbappe, often descending into center field to find them.

Messi leads in dribbling attempts with a 56.4% success rate.

He won seven FIFA Ballon d'Or awards, led Barcelona to ten La Liga titles, and scored over 700 official goals.

Messi is considered the best player in the world by many, including Bastian Schweinsteiger, due to his exceptional ability to create scoring opportunities.

He strives for victory with passion, driven to create decisive moments on the field.

Title:

Content: Schweinsteiger: Messi was created for decisive moments
yesterday, 19: 49
Former German footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger spoke about the striker of the national team of Argentina Lionel Messi.
Messi is made for decisive moments.
His passion, his joy – he strives for it.
All of Argentina wish him victory at the World Cup, and I am sure that many others share that opinion.
Earlier, the national team of Argentina defeated the Netherlands and reached the semifinals of the World Cup (2: 2 in regular time and 4: 3 on penalties).
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Argentina relies on Messi for World Cup success.

Messi's decision-making and ability to create scoring opportunities make him the world's top football player.

He has a growth mindset, believing talent can be developed through dedication and hard work.

Messi's success is due to his strong work ethic and numerous awards, including 7 Ballon d'Or awards.

His training routine is highly unique and cerebral, focusing on conserving energy and planning movements to fuel exceptional creativity in gameplay.

Messi's approach to matches involves mental preparation, watching the field to create scoring opportunities, and exceptional spatial awareness.

He excels at creating scoring opportunities, with former coach Pep Guardiola praising his smart playing style.

Messi's playing style involves walking during games and positioning himself near the opponent's penalty area to create spaces.

He identifies weaknesses in the defense and can open the game from any position, making him a key player.

Messi's influence on modern football extends beyond his achievements, reshaping the sport and inspiring admiration both on and off the pitch.

He has huge attacking variability and excellent understanding with his teammates, making him a key figure in modern football.

Messi is a football altruist who plays successfully with partners.

He leads in dribbling, but struggles with implementation, scoring 6 goals with 7.1 xG, remaining a dominant force.

Lionel Messi's influence on modern football extends beyond his achievements, impacting younger players and the sport's overall style of play.

He is widely considered the best player of all time, thanks to his exceptional decision-making on the field.

Messi understands his opponents' strengths and weaknesses to create scoring opportunities and read the game effectively.

He plans penalties carefully and has a unique style of play.

Messi has an exceptional ability to read the game and make decisions.

He receives the ball with prior information, using his movement and passing ability to create scoring opportunities.

Messi's decision-making is influenced by his experience, allowing him to size up space and showcase his skills.

He excels at creating scoring opportunities, with former coach Pep Guardiola praising his smart playing style.

Messi's playing style involves walking during games, creating spaces and often positioning himself near the opponent's penalty area.

Messi's playing style involves walking during games, creating spaces and often positioning himself near the opponent's penalty area.