Is Messi a “fraud”?
A product of the system, or the system himself?
As Messi’s time at PSG comes to an underwhelming end, a facetious question is making the rounds: is Messi overhyped? Is he a “fraud”? The short answer is No. The long answer, is well, a bit longer.
Crescendo
Messi appeared on the senior FC Barcelona scene in 2005. Everyone knew immediately that he was a super-star in the making. Unlike other highly rated players who fall by the wayside due to form, circumstance, injury or opportunity, Messi went on to create history. He won every trophy with Barcelona, adding a record 7 Ballon d’Or and 6 European Golden Shoe for good measure.
For international football, he chose to represent Argentina, despite having lived in Spain since early teenage. After a range of fortunes for the Albiceleste, including two lost finals, Messi, in 2022, finally got his hands on the Copa America, and the World Cup. When France and Argentina clashed in the gripping finale in Qatar, we got a sense that apart from the French squad, the entire world wanted Messi to win the World Cup. It was getting to the point where the World Cup trophy itself would’ve been deemed “incomplete”, had Messi not won it.
Messi’s outrageous records and mesmerising skills need no elaboration. Like Pele, Maradona and Beckham before him, and Ronaldo alongside him, Messi is among football’s 5 biggest mega-stars of all time.
Dawn and Dusk
Messi’s prodigious talent was enough for Barcelona to sign the 13-year-old, and even pay for the growth hormone treatment he needed. At Barcelona, Messi became part of perhaps the best La Masia crop of all time, featuring, among others Pique, Xavi and Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.
Messi’s early years at Barcelona (youth team) coincided with a resurgence for their senior side, under Rijkaard. Towards the end of Rijkaard’s reign, Messi had broken into the first team; a €150 million buyout clause signifying his value. Rijkaard’s departure in 2008 brought in Pep Guardiola — the Catalan hero who, in 1992, had led Barcelona’s Dream Team, to their first ever European Cup.
An academy crop grown up with each other.
A former player, infused in Cruyffian ways, at the helm.
An outrageous talent, Messi, just about ready to hit his peak.
All pieces of the puzzle were now present. All that was needed now was focus and innovation.
Guardiola, took care of that.
Off-field distractions were disposed of summarily. It’s rumoured that Pep sold Ronaldinho so he could not influence Messi with his partying ways. Messi’s poor diet was also on the radar with Pep reportedly ordering the removal of a fizzy drink machine.
On the field, Messi was cast in a False 9 role, an innovation that would prove to be transformational for Messi, Barcelona and football.
With Messi as the talisman, supported by an able cast, Barcelona played with a seamless beauty that literally felt like watching a symphony orchestra in full flow.
Messi’s contributions grew to the point where Barcelona’s complete-reliance on him coined the term messidependencia. Everything was channeled through Messi. The only difference was whether he was providing the final touch (goal) or the penultimate one (assist).
Records tumbled.
Messi also had unparallel freedom on the pitch. Excused from defensive duties, Messi was often seen “ambling” on the pitch or seemingly “switching off” before suddenly springing into action. By doing so, Messi would scan the field and understand the game, so he could time that mazy run or wonderful pass to perfection. Messi is the only person to have the luxury to do so. No other team can afford 10% of outfield operating with such exceptionalism. Part of it was due to his legendary impact in the False 9 role; part due to his stature in the game.
- Managers knew what Messi could do (as False 9), knew that it worked, and did not want to change anything.
- Managers knew what Messi did, and that they had to change everything around it to fit him.
While the system was working through Messi, for most part the system was working for him.
When Barcelona found itself in a financial quagmire, partly due to Messi’s high wages, Messi reluctantly joined PSG in a high-profile transfer. Despite having the “MnM”s in attack, PSG’s season largely skittled away into mediocrity (pun intended).
Messi’s time at PSG has been underwhelming, at least by public opinion. In 2021–22, he scored 11 goals from 34 appearances for PSG. That same season, Ronaldo, 3 years older, scored 24 from 38, for Manchester United, in the world’s most competitive and physical league.
Messi leading Argentina to the World Cup may be cited as a counter-argument. However, Argentina, like Barcelona, was a system subservient to Messi’s abilities, role and larger than life persona as the successor to Maradona. Yes, he carried Argentina, but had France won the penalty shoot-out, the same would’ve been said of Mbappe.
“Ronaldo could play for Millwall, QPR, Doncaster Rovers, and score a hat-trick in a game. I am not sure Messi could do it. Messi is a Barcelona player.” — Alex Ferguson
With contrasting outcomes at Barcelona and PSG, it’s not surprising to hear the chorus of Messi being a “fraud”.
To be sure, he’s not a fraud. Messi is a bona-fide GOAT candidate and satisfies all four pre-requisites of being considered for that debate: goals, skills, longevity (games) and trophies.
However, he has undoubtedly benefitted from the system working for him. The system and his unique role combined to maximize his performance. These unreal performances enhanced his stature. His stature then accentuated everything he did. It became a self-reinforcing cycle.
Messi’s genius in undeniable. However, for every success of Messi, some part will always trace back to Barcelona’s foresight in procuring him and Guardiola’s insight in casting him in a role for maximal success.
At the end of the day, Messi is “a Barcelona” player, created, defined and measurable in terms of that system. The jersey he wears will change from PSG to something else. The reference point will not.
