As Messi turns 30, there is only more to look forward to
Although Lionel Messi has just turned 30, we should not be focused on saying goodbye. There is still much to come in legendary career.
As Lionel Messi’s 30th birthday has approached, there has been much discussion about what’s left in his career. Luckily for anyone who enjoys the beauty of football, Messi ages like fine wine. Of course with every birthday that passes we unfortunately come closer and closer to the end of La Pulga’s career. However, his 30th should not mark the beginning of the end. It is very likely that Lionel Messi has 5-6 years of high-level football left in him and we should look forward to enjoying it.
Lionel Messi Just Keeps Getting Better
With every season that has passed, Messi has only improved. Although he has never matched his 2011/12 season where he scored a tremendous 73 goals for Barcelona, he has not fallen off. Messi has scored at least 40 goals for Barcelona in the last 8 seasons. Along with that, every aspect Messi’s game has undoubtedly improved with every season that has passed. He has shaped himself into the overall best player in the world. He is dominant in nearly every aspect of the game.
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A look at his career stats in all competitions on Soccerway.com only gives some insight into how superior he has become. To anyone who watches Barcelona play on a regular basis, the evolution of Messi’s game throughout the years has been obvious. He has been one of Barcelona’s most consistent players for the entirety of his career. He shows no signs of slowing down, even as he turns 30. More than likely, he will probably continue to get better, which may be hard to fathom.
Messi Carried a Struggling Barca in 2016/17
Looking back at the 2016/2017 season, there is no sign of Messi’s decline in the near future. With a Barcelona squad plagued with injuries, slumps and poor tactics, Lionel still excelled and in some cases, carried Barcelona to victories. Messi, once again led Barcelona in goal scoring, especially in La Liga, where he tallied 37 goals.
He also created 78 chances and had a successful passing rate of 80%, according to Squawka.com. In the Champions League, he was just as dangerous, scoring 11 goals in 9 appearances and creating 20 chances. In Barcelona’s 3-1 Copa Del Rey final win over Alaves, he was the deciding factor. Tallying a goal and creating the other 2, Messi made sure Barcelona secured a trophy.
However, his most iconic moment of the 2016/17 season has to be the winner against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu. After being bloodied and bruised, Messi rose to the occasion and in the dying seconds, scored the winner in a 3-2 victory, his second of the game and his 500th for Barcelona in all competitions. At the time, that win placed Barcelona back in the title race and forced Real Madrid to win out the rest of their games in La Liga to secure the title. That moment was one that heavily symbolized Messi and Barcelona’s season.
What’s Next for La Pulga?
Fans should look forward to and appreciate what Messi has left to give us in his already-legendary career. Although he still has a lot to give, nothing lasts forever. The magic that Messi provides every week will sorely be missed once it is gone. However, the focus should not be on the end of his career. Football fans who appreciate the beauty of the game should focus on the reality that Lionel Messi still has a lot to give. As he enters his 30s, there are only things to look forward to. The upcoming 2017/2018 season is something to be excited about. With new coaches at both Barcelona and Argentina, Messi will have a fresh start.
He will be key in Valverde’s efforts to restore Barcelona to its conventional dominance. At Argentina, he will be hungry to win the 2018 World Cup and finally obtain that fleeting international trophy. He will undoubtedly break more records, add to his already-incredible stats, and of course win more trophies in the foreseeable future. In his 30s, Messi will further cement his place in football history as the best player to ever play the beautiful game.