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When Lionel Messi Was Challenged To Score From Behind The Goal

When Lionel Messi Was Challenged To Score From Behind The Goal

The Barcelona forward isn't up for the FIFA Best Player Award this year but here's a little reminder about why he really is one of the best.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Lionel Messi is a ridiculous footballer and there isn't really much he can't do on the pitch, apart from score penalties on a regular basis. Occasionally we need a reminder of just how skillful he can be.

I've never really been a big fan of awards like the Ballon d'Or or FIFA's The Best Player of the Year because they're celebrating singular success in a team sport and I dunno, I've just never been on board.

They've also become a bit of a popularity contest and weirdly about a team's success being viewed as a personal success. Like Mo Salah being in the top three for the FIFA award this year. Sure he had a good year but without Liverpool's run to the Champions League final would he be in the top three?

Of course Salah's time in the final didn't last long. Image: PA Images
Of course Salah's time in the final didn't last long. Image: PA Images

The Egyptian has knocked Lionel Messi out of the top three spots this season, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric in the other spots, but if the competition really determined the best player in the world Messi would always be in the top three, even based on a year on year basis.

In case you ever forget how good he is he can casually produce this kind of magic in training, and let's be honest he'd do it under pressure if it was possible:

Spain manager Luis Enrique, who used to manage Messi at Barca, backed the idea that the Argentina forward is the best in the world, saying ahead of his side's game against World Cup finalists Croatia last week:

"If I talk about Croatia [players], I would talk about Modric and [Ivan] Rakitic. They both deserve individual prizes.

"But if I have to talk about the best in the world, the prize of the best player would be given to Leo Messi, who is one step above the rest."

Barcelona replied in perfect way after Messi's snub:

In the 2017/18 season Messi won La Liga and the Copa del Rey and scored 34 goals in the season with his total of 45 goals in all competitions surpassing both Ronaldo and Salah.

Should Messi have been in the top three?

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Champions League, Spain, La Liga