When Lionel Messi eventually retires from football, we’ll realise how lucky we have been to witness his entire career first-hand.
From the floppy-haired teen embarrassing Chelsea in the 2006 Champions League to the accomplished forward breaking all kinds of records, the Argentine has forever been a treat to watch.
At 31, he might not have long left at the top, but he’s hardly showing any signs of decline. In a world packed with luxury players, he has both the flair and the end-product.
Indeed, during a 1-1 draw with Atlético Madrid over the weekend, he showed that no Chelsea left-back, current or former, is ever able to escape his powers.
If Messi has one disadvantage, it’s his height, and that almost showed itself as he had to stretch to get his head on a ball in midfield.
That gave Filipe Luis cause to think he could close the gap and get tight to the Barça man. Oh, how wrong he was.
The ex-Chelsea man might have at least thought he could wait for Messi to bring the ball down before having to contend with his next move. Again, wrong.
Ever seen a no-look, first-touch backheel nutmeg on the volley? You have now.
If anyone else pulled off that kind of move, you’d be tempted to wonder if it was an accident. That level of precision in a spot where simply having control of your faculties is a challenge? It’s not easy.
This is Lionel Messi, though, and has Lionel Messi ever done anything by accident?
We’re going to miss him when he’s gone.
(Images: Getty)
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