Lionel Messi was crowned by FIFA the best player in the world for the third consecutive year. Messi adds the Ballon d’Or to his ever increasing collection of medals and trophies. The result, this year, was highly predictable as Cristiano Ronaldo came second and Xavi third. Even more predictable, Pep Guardiola won coach of the year. To add some spice to the event, though, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Mourinho failed to turn up. Guess life must be pretty hard when The Special One loses.
But let’s look at the numbers. And they are frightening, Pele-type numbers. In the last three and a half years Messi has scored an astonishing 169 goals in 187 games as well as amassing 67 assists. That means he’s either scored or been integral to over 200 goals.
Most players would be ecstatic with those sort of numbers at the end of their career. Messi is still only 24 years old. At this rate, until age starts kicking in, there’s very little that can stop Messi from racking up award after award.
There’s only one question left about Lionel Messi . When will he win the World Cup? Messi was tired in 2010 and he disappointed, along with the rest of the Argentine team. He also had the put-it-mildly unbalanced Maradona as a coach who seemed to have used a no defence policy. Excuses aside, Messi needs to show the world that he can win the World Cup single-handedly, that he can push and inspire his team-mates the way that Maradona did in his prime. Then all the questions will be answered. And the best player in the world may well become the best player of all time.
