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Although the constant comparisons between countrymen Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona are not yet justified, the Barcelona superstar can no doubt claim to be Ronaldo’s successor as the best footballer on the planet after playing an integral part in a team that became the first La Liga outfit in history to register the famed treble in one season.
Barcelona have capped off a stunning season by defeating Manchester United in the Champions League final to coincide with its victories in the Copa Del Rey and the Spanish Primera.
While it was assured that a Barca – United final was one of the most anticipated in living memory, the individual battle between Ronaldo and Messi was just as intriguing, given the fact the winner in Europe’s premier club competition would have undoubtedly been crowned the best player on the planet.
Ronaldo deservedly received the necessary individual accolades last season to be crowned the premier footballer in the world. The Portuguese superstar scored over forty goals last season to help guide United to victories in the Premier League and the Champions League against Chelsea.
But in the space of a season, a 21 year old Argentine who suffered a growth deficiency when he was a child, is about to succeed Ronaldo as football’s new world number one.
Sure, Messi’s performance in the Champions League final was not the greatest of all time. He participated in a couple of promising attacking raids in a first half that showcased the nerves of a player participating in such an important event at such a young age.
In the second half however, Messi came out of his shell and let his feet do the talking in a move that allowed the flawless telepathic communication between fellow midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta to flow.
What followed was vintage Messi as he seized a brilliant cross from Xavi to head home a superb goal that ultimately proved to be the final nail in the coffin for United, as Barcelona registered its third European crown.
Overall Messi’s performance in the final was enough for fans to name him the man of the match according to the official UEFA champions League website.
Indeed Barcelona’s coronation as European champions has rounded off a supreme season for Messi, where he was undoubtedly at the forefront in most of his side’s successes this season.
His second goal in the Champions League final was his ninth in just eleven Champions League appearances this season, making him the first Argentine in history to top the goal scoring charts.
Overall, Messi has scored a remarkable 38 goals this season (23 in league, 6 in cup and 9 in Europe), to see him leading the goal scoring charts in all of Europe’s premier leagues.
His efforts, alongside those of Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o, have also established Barcelona’s current forward line as the most potent in La Liga history, which is responsible for 98 goals.
Throw in his performance in Barcelona’s historical 6-2 rout against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu, and its easy to understand why it is only natural that Messi should accept Ronaldo’s crown as FIFA World Player of the year.
Many will also believe that Messi’s performances this season will see him rightfully place himself alongside fellow Argentine’s Maradona and Di Stefano as the nation’s best ever footballers.
While such comparisons remain premature, Messi will no doubt focus his supreme energy and talent on guiding Argentina to the 2010 FIFA World Cup next year.
If he ends up dominating the biggest tournament football has to offer, no doubt Messi will not only be the best player of his generation, but arguably one of the greatest of all time.