Nothing should be more frustrating to Lionel Messi heading into 2018 Russia World Cup, other than the fact that despite his many achievements and arguably the best player to have played the game, he still hasn’t won the World Cup. He will look to break World Cup jinx since he started his football back in 2003.
Messi, who currently plies his trade at Barcelona, has won many accolades and broke records, but that is not enough in his name since his long-term rivalry Christiano Ronaldo has recorded international trophy.
He is often considered as the greatest player in the world and considered by many as the greatest of all time.
Messi, who dons No.: 10 jersey for both Barca and Argentina has a lower centre of gravity than lankier players, which gives him better agility, allowing him to change direction more swiftly to penetrate opposition defence.
Despite being physically shortness, he has major upper-body strength, which is combined with his low centre of gravity and causing a balance, which helps him in surviving physical tackles from opponents.
He is the kind of player that has consequently been noticed for his lack of diving in a sport with play-acting to win fouls.
His short, strong legs give him an ability to excel and retain control of the ball when dribbling at speed.
Messi has been crown of five Ballon d’Or awards, four of which he won consecutively, and a record-tying four European Golden Shoes in the La Liga.
In the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil, the left-footed footballer failed to clinch the most talked about trophy when Argentina succumbed 1-0 to Germany in the final.
In 2016, he retired from the international football following Argentina’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Chile in the Copa America 2016 Final.
Following talks with new Argentina Coach Edgardo Bauza, Messi’s name was again on the squad list.
He has played for Barca his entire professional career, where he has won 32 trophies, including nine La Liga titles, four Uefa Champions League titles, and six Copas del Reys.
Both as prolific goal poacher and creative playmaker, Messi holds the records for most official goals scored in all competition that he has played.
He has scored over 600 senior career goals for club and country. This season, he had an impressive form helping Barca, winning La Liga title.
Like any other player, Messi needs strong support to help Argentina to win World Cup after 32 years, and Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, and Angel Di Maria are among the players that are expected to ease the job for him to clinch the competition.
