Argentine superstar and world class talent Lionel Messi has not always had the best of times when put onto the biggest stage that the beautiful game of football can offer a player – the World Cup.
Argentina have had mixed times in recent years, particularly when crossed with the success that another enigma, Diego Maradona, had with them in previous tournaments, but at 35 years of age now, Messi will be determined to make the first ever winter World Cup out in Qatar one that he can dine off as he moves towards retirement and the end of his glittering and trophy laden playing career.
With the massive press interest and media build up to what can only be described as an odd World Cup at this time of asking, someone in the press or the betting industry always does some kind of strange comparison or means of picking a potential winner and this year has again featured an Octopus of all things – but Betway Insider may well have gone one better as they physically picked five real goats in an effort to pick the World Cup’s greatest of all time player (G.O.A.T).
For reasons that I certainly do not need to explain to your average football fan, Messi would obviously feature on this list despite his perceived lack of real success on the world stage, but he finds himself in very esteemed company as Betway also chose Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele, Zinedine Zidane, and fellow Argentine compatriot Diego Maradona on their top five shortlist.
Explaining the choice of 35 year old Messi on their list for real goats to decide upon, they picked out his best overall World Cup performance across his career to justify his inclusion.
“The greatest dribbler to ever live, Messi’s skills on the ball have undoubtedly captivated the world. His low centre of gravity, speed and endurance have forged him into the genius he is today, effortlessly defeating any defender in his path. For Messi’s greatest World Cup moment, we’ve gone with his performance in Brazil in 2014. Not only was he top scorer for Argentina – which included a corker of a strike to send Iran packing, and netting a free-kick with pinpoint accuracy against Nigeria – he was also named the best player of the tournament and won the Golden Ball award.”
It remains to be seen as to whether or not Messi can replicate the performances and his individual form from that particular tournament, as Argentina’s opener against Saudi Arabia did not go to plan as they rather unexpectedly suffered a 2-1 defeat in what is already one of the shocks of the competition.
Far from it being an overly poor performance from Argentina though, mistakes cost them hugely and they did have the ball in the back of the net three more times but on each occasion it was ruled out for offside.
Given the phenomenal success Messi has had over his career, it would take a very harsh critic to write him off right now as he and his team mates will be determined to take victory over Mexico in their next clash and get themselves back on track.
It could well be Messi’s final World Cup campaign, and he certainly will not want to go out like that.
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