Short thread
Messi declining?

When you are young, you want to be like your idols, shine as bright as them, reach the same height, break all their records.
That& #39;s what we can currently see with Mbappé, Haaland or Fati.

Messi and Cristiano along their career maintained...

1/x

.. that drive during an astonishing long time, around 15 years.

But there comes a time a player takes another step. He won so much, broke so many records, has proven so often to the world and to himself that he can do it all, that he begins to ask himself,...

2/x

... what is this all about. What is the true essence of the game?

That& #39;s when Messi declares that he& #39;s not anymore after the goal at any costs, that he isn& #39;t selfish anymore, and that he tries to let others do that job, enjoys more the act of assisting.

We& #39;ve seen that...
3/x

... in recent years, we& #39;ve seen how he enjoyed assisting for Neymar and Suarez. God, how he looked happy!

I read somewhere that Beckenbauer started as a left winger in youth. When I knew him, he played in midfield and soon dropped deeper to revolutionize the libero...

4/x

... position. It was from there that he could control and organize the whole game, influence every move of his team.

Look what people have said about Messi in recent years, and again after last night& #39;s CL game in Turin:

Messi orchestrating Barça& #39;s game, delivering...

5/x

... another of so many masterclass games as the director of the orchestra.

Messi& #39;s game can& #39;t be measured in goals anymore. And this already for a long time.

He is the master of modern day football, and hopefully he delights us with his presence for many more years.