Seven goals in nine games is hardly a derisory return by any footballer’s standards. Yet in the case of Lionel Messi, it may be the early signs that his days as a goalscoring phenomenon are drawing to a close.
In the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive start to the new season, his agent Jorge Mendes revealed that it would take a bid matching a billion euro buyout clause to prise the Portuguese from Real Madrid, while adding: “It is true he is getting better and will continue to improve until he is 40.”
Messi and Ronaldo have contested an almighty tussle since the latter’s arrival in La Liga some five years ago, with the rivalry centred on the attempts to outdo each other’s incredible goalscoring records. With the changing nature of Messi’s role in Barcelona’s team, this particular aspect of the rivalry may be over.
In previous season’s Messi was irrepressible from his false nine position, helping himself to 186 goals in 165 games between 2010 and 2013. Now, with Neymar and Luis Suarez set to be Barca’s front two, Messi will be operating as a trequartista, with a brief redefined from gorging on goals to laying on the chances for his fellow forwards to feed off.
After a modest debut season in respect of finding the net, Neymar has hit the ground running this time round, and has a goal a game so far. The Brazilian also bagged four goals this week playing for his country against Japan. Suarez also impressed for Uruguay, but of course is yet to play for his new club. Once he becomes part of the starting lineup he is sure to be a huge goal threat, and further eat into the tally of Messi.
Now it is a question of whether the new club captain has the capacity of someone like Ryan Giggs to completely redefine his role within the game, in this case from a celebrated out and out goal-getter to the withdrawn architect that lays on the riches for his teammates.
There is no suggestion that the Argentine superstar is being written off as finished, at 27 he ought to be in his peak years. He is already undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all time, and has thrived in his new role so far this season. It would be more of a surprise should he fail to flourish in a more withdrawn role, given his ball playing abilities, exquisite touch and exceptional vision.
It does mean however that Messi may never again average better than a goal a game in his career, in stark contrast to Ronaldo, who is currently firing in hat-trick after hat-trick. The attention this draws could be crucial in voting for the next Ballon d’Or.
What timing then, that a week on Saturday brings the first Clasico of the season at the Bernabeu, with Ronaldo in scintillating form and Suarez set to make his long-awaited comeback from suspension.
There would be no better time for Messi to step up than on Ronaldo’s patch, with Suarez sure to be grabbing the pre-match headlines ahead of his Barca debut.
