RECENTLY, ARGENTINA-born Lionel Messi led Barcelona to another Champions League victory over Manchester United. This confirms that Barcelona is the best football club in Europe.
Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United and the most successful manager in English football, paid the ultimate tribute to Barcelona, claiming that it is the best team he has confronted in his long and illustrious career. Many have also argued that this is the best Barcelona side ever. And when Ferguson's comment is analysed, plus that of other pundits concerning the present greatest football club, then it could be concluded that Messi, the most dominant and elegant player in the team, could be justifiably be consi-dered as the greatest foot-baller ever.
Messi has led Barce-lona to multiple European championship supremacy and league titles. This year, he has scored over fifty goals in a season. He dominates the game and is a pleasure to watch. Whenever he is in possession of the ball, there is the expectation that something special is going to happen. The accuracy of his passes, the defence-splitting passes, the surge of speed, the dribbles, the shifts, the sense of the position, accuracy of the kicks to goals, the curling spot kicks, make him a genius with the ball at his feet.
And the greatest compliment was paid to Messi by Frenchman Arsene Wenger, manager of Arsenal. Wenger has won the English Premier League and Arsenal plays beautiful passing football. He claimed that Messi is the greatest footballer ever, although he has not seen all footballers.
Wenger said Messi was also humble. He has passion and desire. He was happy and showed no bad reaction to harsh tackles. Wenger further added that Messi was willing to play and always willing to support his teammates. Wenger's statement about Messi as the greatest footballer ever has not only used Messi's football skills but has added other values such as a supportive attitude and pleasant countenance. And indeed, he does not complain to referees or encourage referees to punish other footballers. His greatness involves the manner in which he plays the game.
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There are some who will question his greatness because he has not scored a World Cup goal and has not led Argentina to World Cup glory. The other contenders to greatest footballer ever, Pele and Diego Maradona, have both won World Cups, with Pele being a multiple winner. Maradona almost single-handedly led Napoli to Italian championship. Those are valid points but cannot be the main criteria for wearing the title of greatest ever.
defining goal
Maradona's defining goal is the one against England in the World Cup when he dribbled from the half line and dismissed a couple of defenders and passed the goalkeeper to score a wonder goal. However, Messi has many great goals, not just one. And the way he played when Barcelona defeated a quality Real Madrid team 5-0 was a defining moment. The ball possession and passing were immaculate. It was a dominant display. There was a match in which a team did not get a corner!
There have been memorable matches at various levels, such as the Brazil match against France in World Cup, when Zico represented Brazil and Michel Platini represented France. Then there was the Olivier Shield match between Calabar and the Chung-Fah-trained Clarendon College team, which was the greatest school match I have watched.
But Messi was at his brilliant best at so many important matches that he has to be the greatest player, based on football skills and the spirit in which he plays and enjoys the game.
Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church.
