By Zach Ricchiuti
Lionel Messi's record 86th goal added another accomplishment to what has been a wonderful career.
Sport is a truly beautiful thing. It attracts people of all demographics and nationalities and unites them in in all manner of ways. Some feed off the competitiveness; some bleed for their team. Some get their thrills crunching the numbers, while others prefer to sit back and appreciate the on-field poetry.
Yet sometimes all those fan-filled fiefdoms are brought together in universal awe over one remarkable accomplishment. That's what happened this past weekend, when Lionel Messi scored his record 86th goal of the calendar year.
The feat, which topped Gerd Muller's 85 scores in 1972, is made all the more incredible because of Messi's path to this point mirrors his style of play: unorthodox and yet effortlessly smooth. Unlike most Argentinians, who cut their teeth in the nation's professional leagues, Messi left home at the tender age of 11, exiled after his club decided they would not pay to treat his growth hormone deficiency. Barcelona stepped in, offering to shoulder the cost while also helping his father find a job, and he was soon headed toward a new life in Spain.
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When Messi arrived as part of the U-20 World Cup team, he found himself seated at dinner next to fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero. But their shared nationality was about as far as their connection went. Aguero looked over at the quiet midget and asked him who he was.
When Messi arrived as part of the U-20 World Cup team, he found himself seated at dinner next to fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero. But their shared nationality was about as far as their connection went. Aguero looked over at the quiet midget and asked him who he was.
"Messi," he replied.
Aguero shot back, to raucous laughter: "Messi who?"
It wouldn't be long before Aguero and the rest of the world learned all about the diminutive forward. Messi quickly established himself as a force of nature in Barcelona's youth and reserve matches, and soon forced his way into the lineup. A collective gasp rippled through the stadium within seconds of his first masterful touch on the ball.
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There is something about players that talented that immediately draws your eye. The first time it happened to me was several years back, during an Arsenal FA youth cup match. In it, a small left footer with a number 10 shirt instantly stood out. While not physically blessed with speed or size, his touch was something special. He subtly controlled the ball and space around him, bursting past opposing midfielders with ease. That player's name was Jack Wilshere, who as an 18-year-old would key the Arsenal midfield that famously defeated Barcelona , 2-1, in London.
Watching Messi, I get that same rare feeling. He makes a game full of physical and mental complexity look stunningly simple. There are no tricks, no gimmicks. It's one touch, pass, receive, burst, and shoot. Within days of breaking the record, he tallied two more goals. Ho hum.
And yet it is still a most artistic experience. Tim Vickery, the BBC's South American correspondent, is often asked about his favorite soccer moment of all time. His reply is the first time that he saw Lionel Messi play.
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Perhaps the most appealing aspect of sport, above all others, is the unquestionable demonstration of greatness. The game gives us an opportunity to witness true superiority on any given night, the kind that drops jaws and brings the masses to their feet. Michael Jordan did this. Wayne Gretzky. Ken Griffey Jr. Here on the pitch, we are witnessing that same kind of history. We are witnessing the greatest of all time, and his name is Messi.
Zach Ricchiuti is a contributor and resident soccer expert for Began in '96.
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