The New (And Improved?) Lionel Messi

The world’s best player is back to his best, yet he may actually be better now than ever before

 He admitted himself that 2014 was not the best of years for him personally. Sure he still scored 52 goals in 62 games, reached the World Cup final and received the player of the tournament award in Brasil yet there seemed something missing from Lionel Messi last year. Something seemed lacking, whether the energy that characterises his performances, or the dynamism in his play which we have become accustomed to. Yes there were flashes, but Messi just didn’t seem happy. He has admitted that personal issues affected his form and enjoyment. And while for most players Messi’ season would have been a career best, for him it was seen as an under-performance. That has become in some ways the problem for Messi, people expect so much from him, on a regular basis, that anything below those levels are seen as under-performing, or worse still, a player on the decline. As this article will discuss, instead of a decline, we are witnessing Messi only getting better. 

This blog has been somewhat critical of Messi in recent seasons, believing that his ego has prevented Barca evolving sufficiently post-Guardiola because of his insistence on dominating the team and club as a whole. Barca have seemingly become too reliant and ultimately dominated by Messi and this power has been hard for the club to evolve and progress both on and off the pitch. 

While the answer may have been to sell Messi, make a gigantic fortune from the sale, and look to build a new team, around a new star, Neymar for instance, what has happened is that Messi has now evolved and matured, to a level where it seems Barca have returned to performance levels akin to the Guardiola years. 

It didn’t seem likely when Luis Enrique benched Messi and Neymar against Real Sociedad at the start of January, that 1-0 defeat appeared to signal the end of Enrique’s time with Barca. The result of his own power struggle with Messi showing a clear loser. However, Enrique, who had been criticised from within and outside Barcelona since arriving as coach in the summer, mainly for his failure to communicate his ideas and philosophy effectively, has now seemed to find a system and style which suited the team, particularly Messi. 

It hasn’t been revolutionary yet it has proven very effective. He had tried different ways to fit his front three in and this caused a few problems. Enrique has resorted to the 4-3-3 which is synonymous with Barcelona. It has seen Messi return to the right of the three, a place where started when he broke through at Barca’s first team, with Suarez stretching play up top and Neymar stretching play wide on the left. The best three pronged attack in world football. However, the important element of this is that it suits Messi even more so than the false nine suited him. 

While Guardiola sought to use Messi as the final piece of the build up play, telling him to stay high up and not to come too deep or do too much defending, effectively allowing Messi to ‘cheat’ in order to cause the most damage against sides when he got the ball, Enrique whether by choice, or perhaps Messi’s choosing, has effectively given Messi a free role in the team and Messi is thriving on it. 

In a similar way to what Sabella did with Messi in the World Cup, Messi is now playing more like a playmaker and less like a forward in this new system. He has players ahead of him to make runs, stretch defences and to be the goalscorers while Messi effectively has the role, to give a basketball reference to it, of being the 'point guard'. And for those who follow basketball, the point guard, especially the modern version of this position, is the both playmaker and scorer. He is the key man, the one who 'makes it happen'. He controls the tempo, dictates the rhythm, conducts the plays and makes the decisions for the team. While Xavi played the point guard role of the previous era, Messi is now the all-round point guard on this Barca team. 

There were signs of this move back in 2014. Martino appeared to want a centre forward as the 9 with Messi behind and as mentioned, he played in this deeper role for Argentina. However it is this year where we have seen even more in Messi and as the games against Atletico and Man City particularly have shown, Messi is roaming much more, finding much more space and conducting the game. 

It all makes sense really. Messi may be the best forward in world football, his goals signify this alone, yet Messi is so much more than a forward. He is the most universal footballer in world football. And this playmaker role, this freedom to drop deeper and conduct the game, is bringing out more of his talents. He is showcasing his world class decision making with his phenomenal skill level. 

Yes we have seen some incredible things from Messi in the past several years, however there is a sense that this ‘new’ Messi is now a true leader both in terms of controlling games with the ball, and leading his team (club and country) with his personality. Messi has matured from the quiet, seemingly unassuming individual who would just play and make things happen, to a man who is now confident to lead his team. 

This role for Argentina showed glimpses of the evolving Messi, and while he was criticised at times for his lacklustre performances or lack of impact (he was actually the one who produced assists and goals for all Argentina’s key moments) there was a sense that this was an evolving role for him. Now in 2015 and it seems his ‘dip’ was necessary to learn and adapt to become a better player. He has now embraced this role in the team and is thriving on it. 

Some may say this is no different to the Messi of before, that had he been given this role under Guardiola he would have done the same things. Perhaps. However timing is everything and I believe that at 27 (wow, still so many years left!) and with the natural evolution of Barca as they gradually move away from the Xavi and Iniesta controlled midfield, it seems a perfect time for Messi to step in to this role and take ownership of the team as a whole. 

From what we have seen he seems happy now, something not shown all too often in the past 18 months and thus seems energised in his play. He looks to be playing with a feeling of relaxation, of enjoyment, something akin to playing in ‘flow’. He does not look constrained, pressured or anxious (as we have seen from him at times), but instead he looks at ease. The pitch is once his stage and he is leading this theatre like an experienced actor who knows exactly how to entertain and wow the crowd who marvel at his genius and expression. 

Messi is a performer of the highest order, yet he is also a winner and his performances aren’t just show boating or trickery but purposeful and intelligent. Messi is the most intelligent footballer perhaps ever to have graced the game, his ability to perform at the speed he does and see the pictures ahead of him, while then executing at speed with consistent quality is simply marvellous to watch. 

He may be the first of a future generation of this type of intelligence or he may be a one-off, one who we see every few generations. For me he is the ideal of what personifies a universal footballer. The all-rounder who possesses a world class skill-set allied with a genius football intel which when put together and given the freedom to express and create, simply puts on a wonderful show of football. 

For me Messi has moved to another level in his evolution. To be honest his constant enhancement as a player is simply incredible, yet this step seems markedly significant. This new and improved Messi looks to be on another level again, he now looks ready to completely dominate games, moving wherever he sees fit to dictate and create. 

I thought Barca needed to move on from Messi, what in fact what was needed was a new version of Messi, this Messi. I only hope we continue to see performances like we have done in recent weeks in the coming weeks and months, because this is football at its best. 

Barcelona once again look like a ‘team’ and not a collection of individuals acquiescing to one individual's ego. The key is that this individual has matured, he has evolved, his new role allows his ego to work for the team more so than before. He is the proper leader of Barcelona now, and they look majestic with him in control.     

The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address