The name of Lionel Messi has long been in contention as one of the best players – if not the best ever – to have graced the game of football, yet it seems that such proclamations have somehow always come with a caveat sticking out like a blooming sore thumb.
Invariably, it’s almost always by way of invoking comparisons with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele or Diego Maradona – as if the football wizard’s talents and accomplishments aren’t good enough to stand by themselves without also bringing any of the other football legends into the discussion.
After having recently surpassing Pele’s all-time record of goals for one club – with Messi now only in his early 30s having bagged 644 glorious goals for Barca – it’s high time for the Argentine to be placed on a separate pedestal with an amazing accomplishment that only he can lay claim to.
Former Barcelona striker, Gary Lineker – himself known for his own goal-scoring feats, albeit on a much lower scale – was just one to note on Twitter just how ridiculous a record his new mark was:
“To beat Messi’s 644 goal record, someone will have to score an average of 43 goals a season for 15 years….for one club.”
Taking into full account the innumerable scoring, assisting and playing records the Argentinian has now amassed, isn’t it an appropriate time now that he be duly accorded the appropriate respect and honor for his latest achievements, and not that they’re going to end anytime soon?
There will surely never be another player that will impact the sport of football in the way that Messi has, and for so long a period.