You Are Now Watching The Throne

He picks the ball up around the halfway line, muscling away from the defender who is almost hanging off of him. He bursts forward past 1 challenge, 2 challenges, then a change of direction. One more touch opens up the angle, and then the finish is unerring. Messi has done it again.

But which goal is it?

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With the Ballon D’Or discussion looming, Lionel Messi stands alone atop the list of favourites. In a season that saw Barcelona win just the 4 out of 6 trophies available to them, Messi hit a purple patch like nothing ever seen, ending the season with a world record 73 goals at club level.

73.

But for some, there still lies an almost dismissive attitude with regards to his achievements. Stalin famously said “the death of one man is a tragedy; the death of millions is a statistic.” Not to be melodramatic, but van Persie’s 37 goals in a season for Arsenal was incredible; Messi’s 73 goals for Barcelona is a statistic it seems. What I believe is that this is an issue of Messi’s own making.

Never before has somebody made the extraordinary such a regularity. Look at those goals again, and absorb the brilliance. Most footballers will never score a goal like those once, let alone do it three times. 3 absolute world class, unbelievable goals over a four year period, each a seminal moment in the story of Lionel Messi.

The first was an announcement. The little left footed kid from Argentina piping up and introducing himself to the world. The great Diego Maradona, after numerous false dawns, finally had a worthy heir to his title, as Messi slalomed away from challenge after challenge, storming through before rounding the keeper and finishing with his right foot. It is a truly incredible goal that sends shivers down the spine still. The Camp Nou rises to salute the boy wonder, as the world stands up to take notice.

The second is a statement. As the season headed towards a chaotic climax, the narrative was almost just Messi vs Ronaldo. And time and time again, anything Ronaldo could do, Messi did, and did it better. Madrid stormed to 18 wins in their last 19 games, but the 19^th game was against Barcelona and Messi. Messi scored as Barcelona won 2-0. Against Zaragoza, Messi muscled the ball away from the defender, beat four challenges and left one defender in particular with twisted blood, before slamming a finish into the bottom corner. The statement is clear. Messi was the best in the world.

The third is simply a calling card. In the dick swinging contest that is the discussion about the best players ever, Messi unzipped and slapped his manhood on the table with this goal. With the duels spanning three competitions, Barcelona were reeling having lost the Copa del Rey to their fiercest rivals. To add to the story that is Messi’s career, his personal rival had been the one to score the winning goal. And yet again, Messi redoubled his efforts, scored one and then blew away Madrid with that stunner. In their own backyard. The catalyst to Barcelona’s “fucking barbaric” season in Guardiola’s words, Messi had done it again.

An extraordinary player, scoring extraordinary goals at extraordinary times.

Numbers tell half the story, the moments explain the rest. In the words of Sid Lowe, he does things that would be as unbelievable as they are unique, but for one thing: he does them again and again and again. As Guardiola said, “Don’t write about him, don’t try to describe him, watch him.”

Watch the Messi inspired 5-0 against Real Madrid, watch the Messi inspired 6-2 against Real Madrid, watch the glide through the air to head in the second against Man Utd in the Champions League final, watch the three against Brazil, the four against Arsenal, the five against Leverkusen.

Watch the extraordinary. Watch the best ever.