Another Argentinian
off the production line "new Maradonas, " Lionel Messi may be the first to live up to that unfair comparison. Where Javier Saviola, Juan Roman Riquelme and Pablo Aimar wonder they missed the match his high standards, despite the initial promise, Messi has shown that even at a young age is able to bear the weight of the team and expectant nation on his shoulders.
credit also has to give his Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard for not rushing him into a starting place at Barcelona is more than willing to hold.
"It is clear that Messi is a talent, future players, but I ask that everyone continues supporting him when he off the team because he is still very young." Rijkaard said in a recent interview. He continued:
"I am confident about it, because I know that he does not pay attention to all the speculation in the media." He prefers to do his talking on the field. "
In fact his three goals and one assist in nine league starts for Barcelona this season to add to his goal and assist in the Champions League a copy of his coaches say, 18 years young and have only just beginning to see glimpses of his enormous potential . Messi said:
"I want to keep on learning and I hope things are going well for me. thing is to help the team as much as possible."
These are the words of a young man with a focused head on his shoulders, and more importantly good advisors around him. How many times have we seen the vultures swoop in on young miracles sweet talk them and their parents in a committed career suicide by sulking and demanding more playing time just to not more than a trivia question five years down the road.
With the World Cup in Germany fast approaching Lionel Messi will definitely be one to watch if elected to national office.
Enrique Dominguez, Messi's former coach said: "He could do things with the ball that defied the laws of physics. The only other person I've ever seen that was Diego Maradona".
Let us all recall that Maradona did not come up in their 1986 World Cup in Mexico despite being tipped for great things in Spain four years ago. This World Cup was a general disappointment for Maradona and Argentina. Messi will be three years younger than Maradona was in his first appearance in the World Cup, and it is important that we all allow Lionel to continue developing at its current pace without placing on him too much pressure on teenagers to handle. For his part Messi must maintain his enthusiasm and work ethic that has so far impressed his coaches and peers. If he can do that then the sky's the limit really.
Career Highlights 24th June 1987 was born in Rosario, Argentina 2000 Lionel and his family moved to Spain to treat his hormonal growth deficiency Signs for Barcelona at the age of 13 16th October 2004 makes his first temple Barcelona debut against RCD Espanyol first May 2005 became the youngest scorer in the history of Barcelona against Albacete when he scored his first goal in 17 years, ten months and seven days June 2005 helps Argentina to win the FIFA 20 team World Youth Championship scoring two goals against Nigeria in the final 27th June 2005 restores his contract with Barcelona until 2010 EUR150 million buy-out clause 4th August 2005 got his first call up the Argentine national team 25th September 2005 is obtained Spanish citizenship by allowing him to play more games for FC Barcelona no longer restricts non-EU player quota