In the space of a few days, the Argentine has broken two records, becoming La Liga’s all-time top goalscorer with 253 goals, and now after his hat-trick against Apoel Nicosia, becoming the highest goalscorer in Champions a league history, beating Raul’s record of 71.
At the age of just 27, he continues to astound the footballing world, breaking records after records. Not only has he broken these two, but in March this year he became Barcelona’s top goalscorer, overtaking Paulino Alacantara’s 368 goals.
He currently holds the record of scoring the most goals in a calendar year, finding the net an incredible 91 times in 2012. Overtaking Gerd Muller’s previous record of 85. And in the 2011/12 season, Messi completed the most prolific season in European football history, scoring 68 goals. Again breaking a record set by Gerd Muller.
Messi also claims the title of the most Ballon d’Or wins, claiming the prestigious world prize four times in successive years between 2009 and 2012. The list of records held by the Barcelona talisman goes on and on.
At the age of 13, Messi’s Newell Old Boys could no longer afford to pay for his growth hormone drugs, so him and his family moved to Europe.
His early years were very tough for a tiny, shy and conspicuous foreign, and according to Cesc Fabregas, people actually thought he was a mute. Messi however devoted himself to his art, football became his life and best friend and would cure him of his loneliness when his family returned to Argentina.
He has now blossomed into a super-human that brings joy to the footballing world, with his exquisite ball control, dribbling skills and goal-scoring ability.
Watching him stroll about the pitch, you may think he’s lazy, or letting his team down by not running as much as them, but as soon as that ball approaches the little argentine, he can suddenly switch on at literally the speed of light and shows incredible acceleration, with feet like glue keeping the ball close by.
He’s turned economy of movement into a sort of art form. He seems to reserve every possibly joule of energy for the moment when it is most required.
Deservedly so, he is now being considered as one of, if not the greatest ever footballers of all time, and as a football fan that has watched him grow each year, he certainly deserves all the praise heaped upon him.