Young Lionel Messi Tearing The Opposition Apart Is Wonderful

Grown men have been made to look like little kids by Lionel Messi and when he was a little kid the Barcelona forward was making his opponents look like babies.

Messi has been at the top of the world game pretty much since he broke into the Barcelona regular starting XI in 2005, winning an unreal amount of personal and team awards and scoring a near unthinkable amount of goals.

However the Argentina forward had been doing Messi things even before then, with this collection of clips from the five time Ballon d'Or winner as a child showing just how good he was.

Messi hasn't been able to show off any of his skills so far this season. He picked up an injury towards the end of the summer and missed the last few of his side's pre season friendlies.

The injury ruled him out of Ernesto Valverde's team's for the opening day of the season loss to Athletic Bilbao but it looked like he would return in time for the Real Betis game, however that wasn't the case.

The La Liga champions beat Betis without him but then could only manage a draw against Osasuna last weekend.

Without the Ballon d'Or winner in their team Barca have only managed one win in the previous eight games since November 2018.

Messi sits in the stand with fellow injured Barca star Luis Suarez. Image: PA Images

On Friday Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed that Messi is allowed to walk away from the club whenever he wants for free, saying, "Leo Messi has a contract through to the 2020/21 season, but the player is able to leave Barça before the final season.

"It's the same case as with the final contracts that Xavi, [Carles] Puyol and [Andres] Iniesta had. They are players who deserve that liberty, and we shouldn't worry, as they are very committed to Barça. We want Messi to play for Barça through to 2021 and beyond. We are very calm."

Messi finished runner up to Virgil van Dijk in the UEFA Player of the Year awards and goes up against the Dutchman, and old foe Cristiano Ronaldo, later this month in FIFA's 'The Best' Player of the Year later this month.

Will Messi beat Van Dijk to the award?

Topics: Football News, Lionel Messi, Argentina, Spain, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

@Sidler28