On many occasions over the last decade at the grandest club stage of them all – the UEFA Champions League – have we witnessed such wizardry, artistry and moments of brilliance that some times you just have to sit and watch in such awe – and maybe gawp a little, too. The best athletes in the game give us a glimpse of their individual brilliance on a night that promises so much each time a Champions League game comes along or even, when the famous anthem is played. What we witnessed on Wednesday night though was mesmeric, a player who week-in, week-out gives the whole world a taste of his very own wizardry.
After a week of an unsettling aura surrounding the Barcelona camp, having not picked up a victory in their last 3 games – call it a crisis if you want – many believed Tottenham would never have a better opportunity to face last seasons La Liga champions. Some even suggesting that Barcelona may come up short once again this season in the Champions League. However, judging by Wednesday’s performance on English soil, Tottenham suffered such a harsh lesson in the realities of Europe’s biggest club competition. Succumbing to the realization that it can be very frightening at the top, as Barcelona’s genius Lionel Messi highlighted the idea that Tottenham may never come across another player with such a creative power and divine force as the Argentinian great.
Lionel Messi enforced his artistry and greatness with a performance that we the audience have been accustomed to since he stepped onto the scene. Scoring a couple, hitting the post twice, and also involved in the other two goals. Menacing his opponents all night with his dribbling, unerring passing and his telling eye for goal. If Messi didn’t have such brilliance with the ball at his feet and his genius knack of finding the back of the net with such great regularity, he would probably be the best midfielder on the planet. Certainly, we the audience have become so used to his ability to weave and dance his way around defenders but another component he has – without any fault – added to his game is his frightening vision and passing. The departures of Iniesta and Xavi left a gaping hole in the Barcelona passing industry but Messi has taken on that role along with his own masterful duties with a sheer and consummate ease. The pass for Jordi Alba leading up to the first goal inside two minutes was just absurd – picture perfect even.
As stated in the above tweet, because Messi has come to England and showcased his awesomeness as well pulling the same sort of performances in La Liga every week which hardly ever gets noticed or even admired once again highlights the idea that the Barcelona magician may just not be appreciated as much as he should be or if I am correct in saying – as much as his fierce counterpart Cristiano Ronaldo is.
If anyone’s ever uttered the words, “Lionel Messi would never cut it in the Premier League” – they may need to rethink their stance if they check out the Argentinian’s stats against English sides in Europe. “He shows in every game why he is Messi. His average performance is this type of game.” said Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino after witnessing Messi’s artistry. Lionel Messi may always draw comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo – who has conquered both England and Spain and is now over in Italy with Juventus – but Messi has shown time and time again that even if he was to be a Premier League player, he could conquer it just as easily as Ronaldo did. The Argentinian has scored 22 goals and delivered 6 assists in 28 games against England’s finest. If you think not playing in the Premier League precludes him from the GOAT tag, you may need to re-evaluate your opinion.
| Lionel Messi versus English clubs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Arsenal | 6 | 9 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 10 | 3 | 3 |
| Liverpool | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Man City | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| Man Utd | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Tottenham | 1 | 2 | 0 |
If you look back at his performances against those English clubs over the years, his performance against Manchester United who won the trophy the previous year in the 2009 Champions League final also captured the imagination of the whole world. During that year Ronaldo was heralded as the best player in the world after his brilliance won United the trophy in 2008, the fact that the two great players took to the field on that night added another layer of excitement to that final in the Italian capital. His majestically taken headed goal past Edwin Van Der Sar in the United goal, rising head and shoulders above the lanky Rio Ferdinand – like he was ascending to heaven for his glorious performance – stealing the show as Barcelona marched towards the grandest European prize.
His four goals against Arsenal in 2010, another example of the heights and feats that Lionel Messi has reached in his over-illustrious career. The 2011 Champions League final against Manchester United again at Wembley, the little magician put in the same performance as he did on Wednesday night, bringing United back down to earth after Rooney had dragged United back into the spectacle. Another glorious goal dribbling his way through before firing an unerring shot past Edwin Van Der Sar – the dutch goalkeeper looking helpless. These are the kind of nights that Lionel Messi revels in, he was born and created for moments like this.
10 goals, 4 assists in 9 games already this season shows that Lionel Messi yet again, means business. The Argentinian stated as the season started that Barcelona would attempt everything in their power to recapture the Champions League trophy, a prize that has eluded them since 2015. Messi may be sick of the sight of seeing his El Clasico rivals Real Madrid rivals lifting the famous trophy three years in a row. Wednesday nights antics reinforced the levels that Messi will reach to try and get his hands on that trophy. Tottenham witnessed that ruthless streak – and its only the second group game of the campaign. Nobody should be surprised at the panic that set into Tottenham’s defence, because even by Messi’s standards, it would be difficult to think there could be enough superlatives in existence to comprehend Messi’s mastery. There are times where it seems as though Messi is only on this earth to visit.
After Kane and Lamela had dragged Tottenham back into the game after their second-half onslaught, Messi settled it in the 89th minute. Working the ball to Alba who then tried a cut-back to Luis Suarez who expertly dummied the pass into Messi’s path before the Argentinian coolly and calmly stroked the ball into the bottom corner. The relationship between those two is absolutely mesmerizing, almost like Suarez plays for Messi, also goes to show how much Suarez appreciates playing with Messi. It was yet another night where Messi took all of the plaudits, he was at the heart of everything. His slaloming 40-yard run which took him past Alderweireld then Davinson Sanchez before caressing the ball unto the post, it would have been yet another majestic goal. The Argentinian was toying with Spurs like he was orchestrating an eventful puppet show.
The idea that Spurs were on their way to pegging the game back to 3-3 almost felt bewildering given the way Barcelona dominated certain spells of the game. Barcelona were both exhilarating and at times vulnerable. But they were so superior, that nobody could question the conclusion that Barcelona deserved the victory on the night.
Messi’s ability to create his own space, play at his own pace, a talent he does not relinquish even if he was playing walking football, made him the central figure. Tottenham couldn’t even get close. It was a night Lionel Messi produced his irresistible moments of control, vision and tenacity, swiping the Tottenham defence aside like a cobweb languishing around a window frame. We are truly privileged to live in a time of Lionel Messi. A majestic wizard and an artist on the football pitch. Can we say he is better than Maradona? Is he the greatest player we’ve seen? Well, that’s a debate for another day. What’s for certain and that not one single person on the planet can argue about – whether knowing the genius of Messi or not – is that his mastery knows no bounds.
A truly tremendous player.
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