The squad that Messi had for Arges in last 10-12 years, had CR replaced him in that sky blue shirt, Arges would have won at least 2 WCs and 4 Copa by now!!!!! Even this year, they have dropped Icardi & Correa because other 4 are Messi, Dybala, Higuan and .......Aguero!!!!! For his own good, Messi should have left Barca for a couple of years and win something without that golden Barca generation. Great ball players are cherished in every generation and I do agree, there is hardly anyone better than Messi with ball on feet, but not every great footballer is a winner - Zizu, Fat/Playboy Ronaldo, Pele, Maradona are those rare breed who could play and inspire their team to win. Messi has to win this WC, to come into that league - his squad is definitely good enough, no excuses.
He is 33 and seems like getting better, which I think is explainable. He is supremely skilled and technically outstanding, but most cases what happens is once players hit 30, their body gives up - this guy has kept his fitness, stamina, hunger and despite his lavish lifestyle, he is the hardest worker on the game and now he has added over 15 years of experience at the highest level for the best 2 clubs of his generation, playing under some of the best ever Managers!!!! Something we have seen for Zizu & Ibra as well - arguably Zizu was best in 2006 WC, at 34.
Yesterday, apart from 3 goals, he had couple of unique moments, which makes him probably the deadliest forward of all time - in 1st half, he sliced a squire pass for running forward (Guides probably), perfectly timed and paced, just from one single touch of his outside edge of right boot, when I am sure most forward would have tried to run with the ball and get stuck in a corner. Then in last moment, he almost got in between 2 Spanish CBs from nowhere, to get at the end of quite an innocent cross - perfectly timed run to beat offside trap & get on to scoring position. And, he beat someone DDG with a left footed standing shot from out side box!!!!! As, I wrote in another post - he was winger at MU, one of a pair forward at Real and No. 9 for Portugal in a arrow shape attack - and he is outstanding in every role.
I am a French & Dutch fan - if we could ever imagine a forward with the mixed skills & vision of Cruiff, Van Basten, Henrey & Platini - probably could have been something like CR07, still no one would beat him in straight line speed with ball on feet, not even Arsenal's Henrey. The most complete goal machine game has ever seen.
I wish he continues till Qatar.
especially Portugal with Ronaldo over the years.
