What can you write about the miraculous little man from Argentina that hasn't been written before? We have all heard about his goals tally. Each of us know about his many assists.
We all watched this week, as he notched his eight Champions League hatrick. In many ways, it has all been said before. We run out of superlatives when it comes to describing the worlds best footballer. So, in this article, I am going to concentrate on Lionel Messi's disciplinary record, instead of his attacking prowess. And, do you know something? It is equally as impressive.
Lionel Messi has been sent off just once in his entire senior career
I think that is worth repeating. Lionel Messi was sent off just once in his entire senior career! This happened on his debut for Argentina in 2005. A very young and spritely looking Messi replaced Lisandro López in the second half of a friendly match against Hungary.
After only a few seconds the ball was worked to Messi's feet, as good a place as any for any ball to be. He went past his man with ease, only to be hauled back by his jersey, Messi threw out a hand to hold off the defender, and connected with the face of the opposition.
Here is a video of the incident:
That's never a sending off
You know something, that one sending off was also a tad harsh in my opinion. I have looked back at it now a few times, and for me it's not a sending off. I don't think it was intentional. He is clearly dragged back by the defender, and is just trying to knock the defenders hand away and continue his run. Now, to be fair it is a yellow card, as he does make contact with the Hungarians face, albeit accidentally.
Do you agree
So, am I being a complete Messi fan boy here! Was it a sending off in your own opinion? Or maybe you agree with me that it was actually harsh to give him his marching orders for this minor indiscretion.
One harsh red card in 550 games
That's really impressive in my opinion. Like me, a lot of you have played football, and like me, many of you have been on the receiving end of dirty tackles.
What do we think, as we gather ourselves? We think to ourselves, next tackle, he's getting it! And, we often see it in the professional game too. Who can forget Roy Keane's disgraceful tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland in the Manchserter Derby in April 2001. In football, an eye for an eye mentality is quite normal.
Impressive
This for me makes Messi's disciplinary record even more impressive. A game doesn't go by without someone trying to take him out with a slide tackle, an elbow, a tug on the jersey - anything to knock him off balance. But, that is the essence of Messi, balance, his 5 foot 7 inch frame means he has a very low centre of gravity in comparison to most players. This lends itself to a player having better balance than a taller player. That's just physics.
So, as he jinks and flicks himself past tackles and lunges, he often gets taken out.
Just look at some of these images...
THE BEAR HUG
THE SLIDE TACKLE
THE CHEEKY KICK
THE KARATE KICK ASSAULT
THE POLEAXE
How does Messi react to this?
Perfect Role Model
He reacts with a smile, with a shrug of the shoulders, a hand shake. There is a lot to love about Lionel Messi. There is skill and ability. There are sensational goals. There are incredible dribbles. But, what defines him for me is how he still plays with a smile on his face and the fact that he is a proper sportsman, a gentleman in fact and let's face it there are not too many true gentleman in our great sport these days. Messi is a bright light, a great role model for our children.
Cherish this time
Watch as many Barcelona games as you can, while this little genius is playing our game, because, mark my words, he will be remembered as the best footballer of all time.
The appreciate true genius in order realms, like music or film, often times the musician or actor/director will have to be near retirement or at times six feet under, before they are truly appreciated. So for me, when Messi finally hangs up the boots, and plays his last game, that is when we will all realise that he is the greatest and we are lucky to have been around when he plied his trade.
I'd love to have been around to watch Pelé in his prime or George Best in his hey day, but I am lucky, I have grown up watching Messi play football, and for that I am grateful. We will miss him when he's gone.
Thanks for taking the time to read this
Peace Out
Comments