Lionel Messi’s five-goal haul in Wednesday’s Uefa Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen has initiated discussion about his place among the greats and rightfully so.
The Argentine is being held in the same esteem as the likes of Diego Maradona, Pele, Ferenc Puskas and Johan Cruyff. It’s some esteemed company and thanks all the more remarkable when you think Messi is only 24-years-old.
In many ways, that’s what works against him. The fact he’s a current player, but his achievements to date are truly astonishing.
Three Ballon d’Ors, five La Liga titles, three Uefa Champions League crowns, an Olympic Gold Medal, one European Golden Shoe, three-times La Liga Player of the Year, one-time La Liga topscorer and the list simply goes on and on.
The only thing which alludes Messi at this stage is glory at international level. Argentina’s 2010 World Cup campaign saw them exit at the quarter-final stage. Messi also didn’t score during the event.
The Albiceleste also failed on home turf at the 2011 Copa America, which has raised some questions on Messi. Again, he is only 24, so there is time for him to amend that record.
After Wednesday’s astonishing display, Leverkusen boss Robin Dutt summed it up with a comment which explains just how out-of-this-world Messi is. He is a player, beyond his peers.
“There are really no words to describe his way of playing. He is an extraordinary class,” Dutt said.
“Even without Messi, Barca are the best team in the world, but with him they are from another galaxy.”
Barca boss Pep Guardiola added: “We have just seen one of his most special nights. It is not easy to score five goals. We are very fortunate to have him with us and to be able to enjoy him. On the day that he chooses, he will score six.”
The Twittersphere went crazy too, with fellow footballers lavishing praise on Messi.
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney wrote: “Messi is a joke. For me the best ever.”
Franz Beckenbauer said: “Messi is a genius, he has everything. On the one hand, he is very skilful and intelligent, with a left foot like Diego Maradona. On the other hand, he has some of the things of Bobby Charlton, in the sense that he is a real gentleman.”
Guardiola concluded the discussion when he added: “He is the best in the world and I am lucky to say that I have coached him. He is unique in terms of talent but also in terms of his competitiveness.
“He does not think about the big records. He scores one and tries to score the second; he gets the second; and he wants the third; that is how he thinks.
“He is among the greatest of all time. When Di Stefano played they said there would never be another and along came Johan Cruyff; they said there would never be another and along came Maradona; now we have Messi.
“And I should include Pelé or he will get upset.”