Some football players come along once in a generation, lighting up the sport for a time before age inevitably catches up with them and we see them fade away. Other players, however, come along once in a lifetime, working to change the game irrevocably and cement themselves into the shared history and legend of football.
Only a handful of players can say they belong to this elitist of groups. Maradona, Pele, Zidane, these are some of the best footballers the game has ever seen. Trying to decide who the best of the best is, the greatest of all time, can seem like an impossible task and is one that can lead to highly charged and heated debate. However, one name comes up time and time again. He is not a legend of days gone by, but instead a player still playing today and one who has the chance to further cement his status as the inarguable GOAT. We are of course talking about Lionel Messi. Here are 5 things you didn’t know about the Argentinian magician.
His First Barcelona Contract Was Signed On A Napkin
After playing football as a boy in his native Argentina, Messi had attracted the attention of a number of local clubs. However, his family opted to utilise their connections in Catalonia to secure him a trial with Barcelona.
Messi travelled over to Spain when he was 13 and immediately impressed the Barcelona management. In fact, his trial made such an impact that first team scout Charly Rexach drew up a contract on a paper napkin in desperation to secure the signature of the South American prodigy.
He Was Sent Off On His International Debut
Messi made his debut for Argentina when he was 18 years old, coming on as a second half substitute in a 2005 match against Hungary. However, Messi’s debut did not at all go as expected, he was sent off within 44 seconds of coming on after receiving a straight red card for allegedly striking Hungarian defender Vilmos Vanczak in the face with an arm. Upon reflection, the sending off seems harsh. Nonetheless, this was a less-than-ideal international debut for a player many consider to be the greatest of all time.
His Trophy Cabinet Is Missing One Major Honor
Messi is one of the most decorated players in the history of football. His honors list is substantial, the Argentine has 10 La Liga titles, four Copa Del Rays, one Ligue One, four Champions Leagues, and seven Ballon d’Ors.
However, there is one glaring omission in Messi’s trophy collection: the World Cup. He came close to securing football’s biggest prize back in 2014, when Argentina were defeated by Germany. While Messi will forever go down as one of the best to ever play the game, many believe he needs a World Cup in his cabinet to truly establish himself as the best ever.
He might still have the chance to do it, Argentina are among the favourites to win this year’s 2022 Qatar World Cup. Head to 10bet South Africa and check out the odds for yourself.
He Almost Played For Spain
Messi is a hero around the world, but his celebrity in Argentina is on another level entirely. However, it could have all been very different, had the young Messi entertained an offer from the Royal Spanish Football Federation who were attempting to poach the young player for the Spain national side in 2003.
Messi was steadfast in his loyalty to his home country. He turned down the offer to play for Spain and instead chose to play for Argentina, a dream of his since childhood.
Barcelona Considered Selling Him
Back in 2006, the 18-year-old Messi had made 25 appearances for the Barcelona first team. While his incredible talent was undeniable, nobody could yet predict just how big he would become.
As a result, when a €150m offer came in from Serie A side Inter Milan, the Barcelona management team were reported to be seriously considering greenlighting the transfer. Who knows how different the trajectory of Messi’s career would have been had he made this early switch from the Spanish to the Italian top flight.
Conclusion
There can be absolutely no argument that Lionel Messi is among the very best footballers to ever put on a pair of boots. However, the argument gets muddled when asking if is truly the greatest of all time. People hold strong opinions on the matter and can usually not be persuaded otherwise. However, should Messi lift the World Cup this year, they might have to reconsider.
