Turning point in world football That was it for Lionel Messi
By Tobias Nordmann October 31, 2023, 6:50 a.m
Lionel Messi can celebrate the Ballon d’Or one last time. The Argentinian becomes a world footballer one last time. He himself knows that things have been extremely close this year. And so he ushers in the turning point in the fight for the crown with words of comfort.
Lionel Messi knew that things had been extremely tight this year. Erling Haaland had shown no mercy in the Premier League and in Europe and had steamrolled over almost every opponent. Unstoppable, completely different to Messi. Not delicate, rarely tongue-clicking, but merciless. For him, records are not visions, but just milestones. Last season, his first in England, he broke the goalscoring record held by legendary strikers Alan Shearer and Andy Cole. And he won the championship and the Champions League. More is hardly possible, not even as an argument for the Ballon d’Or.
But he’s not going to Norway for the first time, but to Argentina for the eighth time. Messi has done it again. And that’s okay. It was repeatedly questioned whether the brilliant Argentine’s performances were better than those of the others. The duel with Cristiano Ronaldo in particular became an emotional GOAT question: Who is the greatest of all time? To this day, the camps remain irreconcilable. This duel has long been history. Ronaldo angrily said goodbye to Europe and Manchester United last year and has been making a fool of himself ever since in the Saudi Pro League. He was no longer able to provide highlights for a renewed, final application for the Ballon d’Or. His time is over.
Outstanding performances at the World Cup
This now also applies to Messi. He was definitely not the best player in the world over the year either. His time at Paris St. Germain was too weak for that, just like in the MLS, at Inter Miami. But the 36-year-old has had something unique on his resume since December 18, 2022. In the final stretch of his career, he led Argentina to the World Cup title, satisfying the longing of his nation and himself. And leading is the right word, Messi once again delivered an impressive performance. He scored seven goals, including two in the final against France. He scored three goals for his teammates. He was awarded the “Golden Ball” as the best player of the tournament. FIFA praised: “Messi underlined the fact that he should finally win the World Cup during the tournament with some of his best performances on the world football stage.”
Everything has been said about what Messi has given to football over the past two decades. In 889 competitive games at club level (including Miami), he scored an incredible 721 goals and prepared 344. His eternal adversary Ronaldo is hardly worse off: 982 games, 729 goals, 188 assists. In addition, there are countless scorer points in international matches. And collections of titles that hardly anyone else can boast. Has there ever been or will be a more spectacular duel? Nobody can predict that, not even Messi. But now, at the Ballon d’Or gala in Paris, he paved the way for his successors with big words.
“Erling would have really deserved it too”
He emphasized that he was sure that Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, his old club colleague at PSG and opponent in the World Cup final in Qatar, would take his place in the future. “Erling would have really deserved it too. He won the Premier League and the Champions League and was also the best goalscorer of all time. This award could have been yours today too…” said the world champion and added: “I am sure sure you’ll win it in the next few years.” Haaland came second, Mbappé third.
But there are many indications that there will no longer be such a heroic duel, which was only interrupted once by Luka Modrić and Karim Benzema, as between Messi and Ronaldo. Too many young players are putting themselves in position with outstanding performances in these months. Above all, Jude Bellingham, who made the step from leader of BVB to leader of Real Madrid with such absurd ease that even the Royals can only be amazed. Most recently he won the Clasico after being behind with two goals. Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen admitted afterwards: “He changed the game.” Bellingham is currently doing everything, all it needs now are big titles. With Real, with England. Both are possible. Not just this season, which ends with the European Championships in Germany, but for many years to come.
Two Germans are playing big
But there are also players coming up in Germany who can be at the top in the coming years. Above all, Jamal Musiala, who “only” came 26th in the 2023 election. Which is okay given the DFB team’s botched World Cup and FC Bayern’s wild first half of the year. But the 20-year-old’s development is phenomenal. He is already a key player for the record champions and has sent the eternal Thomas Müller to the bench. Almost all giant clubs from Europe are said to have Musiala on their list. There are more and more rumors that a summer change is possible. FC Bayern may replace its super talent (careful, just speculation!) with another: Florian Wirtz. He is the biggest attraction in the amazing Bayer ensemble; at the weekend he enchanted the Bundesliga with a dream goal against Freiburg.
But be careful: the last German world-class talent, Kai Havertz, has experienced a bitter fall from grace in recent months. From Chelsea FC’s Champions League hero, he has become Arsenal FC’s joker. And he is no longer a regular player in the national team either. The height of the fall is immense. By the way, the best German in the election was İlkay Gündoğan, first captain of Haaland’s incredible Citizens and now boss of FC Barcelona’s midfield. Messi had his best time with him, a long time ago. A long time ago. That was it for Messi, his last statement as an active player on the world stage was dazzling. Ronaldo’s dusty, in Saudi Arabia, where a turning point in football is also said to be taking place. But on a completely different level.
2023-10-31 06:09:38
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