On the heels of Messi's "Impossible is Nothing" ad, here is evidence of his brilliance on the field. He beats 6 defenders on this run from midfield. This is an amazing individual performance.
(found as a result of du Nord's narrative description and comments)
4 comments:
He is a very good argument for the importance of youth soccer academies. He has been with Barcelona since he was 12 or 13. I believe in one of your earlier posts that you discussed his growth hormone treatments. Barcelona invested many years in this talented player, and now we see the results.
Compare him to Freddy Adu. Notice that Messi uses both legs equally well. He also has a fearless quality about him. Not arrogance, but with the confidence that we saw in this video to take on virtually the entire Getafe team.
The sky is the limit for Leo Messi.
He really is pretty amazing and it will be great to see where he goes in the future. Barcelona not only invested years, they paid for his treatment (in exchange for him moving to Spain of course).
I think this is what you are getting at, but I'll say it more directly, you cannot even begin to compare him to Adu - they are in different leagues.
Growth Hormone Treatments? Please explain more, I am intrigued. "Artificial" growth hormone is considered doping according to WADA, and is a major problem in professional cycling (Floyd Landis is accused of taking synthetic testosterone during the 2006 Tour de France and will most likely be stripped of the title).
I am assuming this is a totally different treatment.
As for comparisons, I am not sure who's game he emulates, but that goal reminded alot of people of Maradona's second goal against England in the WC. At least that's what I have been reading.
From Worldsoccer.com (I completely confused the issue)
"Lionel Messi is living proof that no setback in life should keep you from following your dreams. At age 11 he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency despite having played for local club Newell's Old Boys from a young age and all promising signs of a future professional football career looked lost.
Messi’s parents decided that a move to Barcelona in Spain would help them find the treatment that their son needed to overcome his health problems and when they arrived in the Spanish city, the young Messi decided to try out for FC Barcelona as a 13 year old. The club were delighted with his talent and promised to pay for his medical treatment if he signed for them.
Goals swiftly followed at the rate of more than one a game for Barcelona’s B team and Messi made his debut for the Barcelona full team against Espanyol only a few months after his 17th birthday, scoring his first goal against Albacete Balcompie in May of the following year.
After turning down the chance to represent Spain at international level, Messi played for Argentina in the 2005 Football World Youth Championship scoring six goals and earning himself accolades as both the tournament’s top scorer and best player. His full international debut came in August of 2005 but was shortlived with Messi being sent off in tears after only three minutes on the pitch.
Messi built on his international reputation in the 2005/2006 season for Barcelona and earned himself rave reviews, most notably from Argentine superstar Diego Maradona who said that Messi was “Maradona’s successor”. Lofty praise indeed for a player barely 18 years of age.
A thigh injury late in the 2005/2006 season almost ruined Messi’s chances of representing Argentina at the 2006 World Cup in Germany but coach Jose Pekerman took a chance on him and he made several substitute appearances culminating in becoming the youngest player ever to represent Argentina at a World Cup and a goal in the 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro."
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