Over the last couple seasons, many soccer analysts and so-called “experts” have stated that the current Barcelona team could be the best ever assembled. Across all sports, it seems that we hear “Best Ever” thrown around like a seal during Shark Week. The 18-1 2008 Patriots were regarded as Best Ever until they weren’t even best in the NFL that season. Individual players such as Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan have been called the best to ever play their individual sports as well.
The only problem with these statements is the one thing that matters most—time. Sports are ever-evolving; there is no definitive way to compare athletes or teams that competed in different eras. Were the ’27 Yankees better than the ’75 Reds (as a native Cincinnatian, which way do you think I lean?). Or how does one know that Jordan was better than Oscar Robertson when they never played against one another or against the same competition?
While we will never definitively know who the best team or athlete of an individual sport is, at least in the “Ever” sense, it is a mighty good time to talk about it and watch YouTube videos to “research” the subject. Regarding Barcelona, it is possible that they may be the best ever-assembled soccer team on the club level, but there must be a player that stands out to make this team so great. That individual is Lionel Messi. While we cannot definitively state he is the best player to play this beautiful game, we can argue that he is amongst the greatest to touch a soccer ball.
Now if for some reason you have been living under a rock, get on a computer and watch some highlight footage right away (also, Geico can save you 15%). Now, one thing you should know is that I am a fan of English soccer; I think the style of play is more exciting, there is less (though still too much) diving, and the competition is higher throughout the standings. But watching Lionel Messi and Barcelona play is a joy. Sure, they are a possession team that frustrates their opponents by keeping the ball for hours, but they always have a purpose and the offense runs through perhaps the best soccer player on the planet right now. Messi seemingly keeps the ball glued to his feet and weaves in and out of defenders, making the world’s best athletes look like kids wearing Rec-Specs (see: Chris Sabo).
And if you’re not convinced that he is the best player in the world right now, watch some video of Barcelona and imagine if he did not play for that team. They would still be pretty good, but the gel that makes them the best in the world would be absent. Furthermore, any Barcelona game will feature a Lionel Messi at the top of his game; he’s not error-free, but he plays as flawless as anyone else in the world.
While we may never know if he is better than fellow Argentinian Diego Maradona, or Brazilian Pelé, or even American Michael Bradley (kidding!), we do know he is definitely in the hypothetical conversation for “Best Player to Ever Touch a Soccer Ball.” If Lionel Messi is able to lead Argentina to World Cup glory, we may be able to put him in to the Michael Jordan/Wayne Gretzky category of possibly Greatest Ever!
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