Messi likely World Cup favorite

By LEONNARD OJWANG
Published June 7, 2010

This year, Argentina’s itinerary comprises of the current soccer reigning star, the 2009 FIFA Player of the Year, Lionel Messi. Unlike previous holders of this mantle, Messi comes with an inscribed intention, to snatch the cup for his homeland; and it will be away from Europe- on African soil- the very first of its kind.

He is the greatest; he is the best; he is the lion. He leads an elite squad of talented, focused and a tightly woven team – Barcelona, which is accustomed to destroying opponents in Spain’s first division, La Liga. He understands, like every soccer icon before him, that “to become a legend, to become great, you have to also win the World Cup,” he told Spain’s El Mundo newspaper recently.

Soccer loyalty knows no language. Messi’s fan base is vast. He commands a following like a cult. From Spain to Argentina, and now Africa, all eyes will be on this lad. His resume contains phrases such as, “an ardent game maker,” “an explosive striker,” and “at will goal-scorer, over some of the world’s best defenders and goalkeepers.” Of course, he is an extraordinary striker.

Argentina needs Messi like they needed Maradona in 1986. Only that this time round, Argentina has both Maradona and Messi in the team, the former being the ‘gun,’ and the later the ‘bullet.’ This time, Messi will be one of the most covered athletes at the tournament. His every move is usually recorded with detail. His mannerism on the pitch is examined closely, to better understand the soccer chip he seems to have in his brain. And unlike before, one of the greatest World Cup stories is about to be written, thanks to him.

Messi’s story is not typical. At age 11, growing up in Rosario (a city about 180 miles northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina), he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. However, this did not interfere with his inherent soccer talent. Even though he was exceptionally shorter than his age mates, the Spanish scouts believed they had a superstar in the making when they saw him play. They were right! Barcelona moved Messi and his family to Spain, when he was 13, where he trained at the club’s youth academy, and received growth hormone injections. Now 22, he is just 5 feet 7 inches tall. His Argentinean fans call him “La Pugla” or “the flea.”

But even at 5 feet 7 inches, he has risen above, and beyond his height and age, to win the 2009 FIFA Player of the Year award. He has a unique treatment for every defender he meets; he is extraordinarily quick, cheeky, stoic and electrifying. His ability to stay on his feet, while maneuvering through gaps in the defense, and around larger defenders, as he accelerates to score, makes him an obvious spectacle. His unrelenting quest to score at every moment, is something every coach envies. His power to sustain a game, and bring hope to his team is a plus, and his demonstrated ability to win matches, makes him one of the greatest crops to watch in 2010 FIFA World Cup. He will probably be in the headlines every single time Argentina plays.

Like it or not, Messi is good. He is soft-spoken, and never brags. He lets people talk. He lets the media sell him. When he sings, the media sings with him. But this time round, they will sing louder, because it is the World Cup, and the vuvuzelas (a stadium horn) are already sounding loud in South Africa! Remember, Messi not only wants to be great, but he wants his name to be read, alongside icons like Maradona and Pele. This World Cup is his big chance, and he knows it.

Right now, Messi is at pains for not clinching the EUFA Champions League (with Barcelona), despite the decent performance, and the incredible games they won towards the finals. He also knows that his team is a collection of some of the best players in the world, in various leagues. In addition, his country has some of the craziest soccer fans in the world (including his coach).

This month, he is in Africa with the wildest shot at retaining his FIFA World Player of the Year crown. The odds are that, his worth will be measured by how he scores his goals, than how many he actually scores. He is the biggest flea on every team’s hopes – defenders are training on how to collectively contain him, should they come face-to-face with Argentina.

Messi’s trademark, ravishing of any number of defenders, and thrashing of goalkeepers from the tightest of angles, makes any Argentina match-up a first class game. He worries every coach, except his own. With a deceptive smile, he can twist and turn with ease, with a magical hold on the ball, as he cruises through the pitch with the weird intention of how he wants to celebrate his goal. And because he is short, his low center of gravity makes him very hard to entangle and fell. That’s why he will be one of the most fouled players this year. Yet he is just one lion- Lionel Messi.

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