Lionel Messi is a PSG forward as at the time of writing although he has been a Barcelona player all his life. He’s undoubtedly the most talented footballer of his time. He’s also regarded as one of the greatest players in the game.

In this post we’d be talking about how Lionel plays football and what makes him a lot different from your regular footballer.

Is Lionel Messi the best goal scorer?

Although Messi isn’t your usual striker, he has never really been a number 9, but his goal scoring ratio isn’t to be compared with wingers like himself.

Here, we’d be comparing him with the best strikers of his time.

Firstly with Luis Suarez, who was once his teammates and probably his best friend. Luis Suarez has scored 515 goals in 817 appearances, his goal scoring ratio is 63%.

Next we’d check out Robert Lewandoski, who’s arguably the best number 9 as at the time of writing. Lewandowski has scored 544 goals in 768 appearances, and this gives him a goal scoring ratio of 70.8%.

Lastly, we’d be comparing him with his biggest rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese has 804 goals in 1096 appearances, giving him a goal scoring ratio of 73%.

On the other hand there’s Lionel Messi who has scored 767 goals in 955 matches giving him a goal scoring ratio of 80%.

Despite not being a full striker, Lionel Messi has 6 European Golden Boot to his name(he’s the highest holder of this award), this award is given to the highest goal scorer for the season based on points. This is enough to show Messi’s goal scoring consistency during his career.

He owns the record for the most goals scored in a single calendar year of 91 goals in a year. That year he was literally competing with clubs.

How the goal scoring ratio is calculated:

goals scored/matches played × 100%

Lionel Messi playmaking ability

According to Wikipedia, a playmaker is someone who controls the flow of the teammates, and is often involved in offensively and defensively play passing moves which leads to goal.

IFFHS award is the award given to the best playmaker of the season based on the amount of assists they’ve given (Last pass given before a goal). Lionel Messi has won the award 4 times.

The award was first awarded in the year 2006. Since then Lionel Messi has managed to equal the highest holder of the award Xavi who was his former teammates.

Lionel Messi is the best dribbler of his time

Without a doubt, we’d all agree dribbling is the most entertaining part of a football match.

Lionel is known for being able to humiliate defenders and sometimes even go as far taking care of the whole opponents defense all by himself.

He also makes beautiful solo runs that the football world would never forget.

According to Bleachers Reports top 20 dribblers, Lionel Messi claims the top spot on the list. See full list here.

Although in history books, Maradona is obviously the best dribbler, but considering Lionel Messi’s career, he’s been outstanding, doing it consistently. Messi should without a doubt retire as the best dribbler of his time.

The competition sees Lionel Messi, he doesn’t see the competition.

All through Lionel Messi’s career, he’s always been a team player and hardly takes credit for himself.

I don’t think there’s been any scenario where Lionel Messi called himself the best in the world unlike other great names in the sport.

He insists team performance comes first before individual accolades and he backs it up with his actions.

Throughout his career, Lionel Messi has given out 29 penalty kicks to his teammates. Just so you know, he could have completed 9 Hat-tricks in those moments.

We’ve also seen countless moments where Lionel Messi could have easily gotten a goal to his name but he gives it freely to his teammates all these acts are enough to show us he isn’t really in a completion with anyone, he just enjoys the game.

Lionel Messi is an overall great player

With all that’s been said above, we can see how Messi has managed to compete with the best in almost every aspect of football.

He’s stands with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Luis Suarez, Robert Lewandoski and Cristiano Ronaldo for the best forwards of his time.

He also stands to be compared with in the list of the highest assists. He has the highest assists in football history. Although we’re not able to get a concrete source to provide the stats, but Messi happens to be the one with the highest assists, competing with the likes of Luis Suarez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil and many other great names in the football world.

When we move to the best dribblers of his time, he’s the best in his time, competing with the likes of Eden Hazard, Neymar Jr, Arda Turan and many others like that on the list.

Checking the playmaking list, Lionel Messi tops the list, equalling Xavi for the most playmaker award, and competing with the likes of Kelvin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Toni Kroos and others you could mention.

He also has 6 Ballon d’or awards to his name. This award is given to the overall best player of the year. Messi with 6 makes him the highest holder of the award. Cristiano Ronaldo comes next on the list with 5 Ballon d’or.

Messi competes with the best strikers, best playmakers, best dribblers and best dribblers simultaneously and consistently. This is something the football world has never seen, and might never get to see again.

Does he really deserves to be compared to other players?

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