Lionel Messi in most peoples view is the best player in the world at the moment. I would like to disagree to a certain point. Much like the constant debate that which player is better? Pele or Maradona?. My argument much like with Maradona that Messi is undoubtedly a world class footballer but he simply is not built to be the best. At 21 he is now fully developed in form and weighs in at 148 lbs and at 5'7 in height he can be dominated by bigger players who can work him out. Now the question is what are his weaknesses; during the champions league semi-final against Chelsea he was found wanting very much in his ability to create space for himself and move the ball onto his right foot. Chelsea had worked out that he is at his most effective when moving in from the right wing on to his stronger left foot, he seems very hesitant to go to the bye line and take a player on with his weaker right foot.
There is no doubting about the quality that he Messi has but would he be effective in the most competitive league in the world in England? I doubt it. Most of his goals this year have been through quick one-twos from the edge of the box and running at players who are off balance. The sheer speed of the game and certainly the physical side of the Premier league would see Messi as a player above distinguished ability but would you say that he would be on par with a Ronaldo, Rooney, Torres or Gerrard?.
The reason why Pele was a better player than Maradona is because he was better in the air than the little Argentine, the same goes when you compare Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger can use both feet and is a big danger in the air, this is down to no small part that he is 165 lbs and 6'1in height. The game is changing and has been now for some time just like other sports; Rugby, Basketball, American Football, Golf as well as many more sports have changed over the last decade due to advancement in diets and technology and this also includes soccer. Players now are bigger than the average man, they are taller, they are stronger. This makes it very hard for a average sized person become the best in their respected sport.
Lionel Messi is very effective in the Spanish league but has never really made huge steps in the champions league past the group stages. Nothing takes away the fact that he has an unbelievable centre of gravity in which he is very hard to knock off the ball and he does have amazingly quick feet, but more is required in this day and age to become the best.
