Lionel Messi

RFUS · May 2, 2011

Cash said:
Same thing enhancing his size with the use of chemicals.

I don't think Messi's talents really stem from his size, though. He's not Peter Crouch.

Cash · May 2, 2011

RadioFriendlyUnitShifter said:
He used growth hormones, and he's still a bloody dwarf. Clearly he needed them.

If you honestly think they've given him superpowers or something, then you need to stop reading comics.

We all know perfomance enhancing drugs are about, ones which can go undetected for years...look at Marion Jones. Messi being at the top of the pyramid would be an ideal candidate to look at. I am not saying he has but with a past use of an enhancement he could have used something else.

Cash · May 2, 2011

RadioFriendlyUnitShifter said:
I don't think Messi's talents really stem from his size, though. He's not Peter Crouch.

It also beefs you out though and his size actually works for him. He is tenacious and can change direction better than anyone in the game. Either an natural talent or something more to it. I don't know

manxtoffee · May 2, 2011

Difficult one tbh. It's probably fair to say without Barca's involvement and offer of GHD treatment he may not have been the same player, but.. doping can't make up for the genetics of raw talent.

Bruce Wayne · May 2, 2011

I dare say football as a whole is involved with drugs more than is believed. I mean I still think cycling has a good deal of it and the testing in cycling is waaaaaaay more stringent than it is in football.

RFUS · May 2, 2011

Cash said:
It also beefs you out though and his size actually works for him. He is tenacious and can change direction better than anyone in the game. Either an natural talent or something more to it. I don't know

Most of his talents involve vision and quick thinking, mate. It's got nothing to do with his body.

He is incredibly strong for someone so small, I'll give you that, but I really don't see how his growth hormones would have aided him in an unfair way. And as for suggesting he might have taken something else, well, there's no evidence at all. That's just plucked out of the air; pure conjecture.

manxtoffee · May 2, 2011

Bruce Wayne said:
I dare say football as a whole is involved with drugs more than is believed. I mean I still think cycling has a good deal of it and the testing in cycling is waaaaaaay more stringent than it is in football.

Cycling has got to be one of most grueling sports there is, a true test of your stamina and within lies your answer.

Bruce Wayne · May 2, 2011

Without doubt, but there still remain numerous physical advantages in football if a player can both keep going for longer AND recover faster in between matches. There have been a few doping cases in football over the years with the likes of Dravid and Stam both caught out in recent times so it would seem to go on. If cyclists still manage to evade discovery I'm certain footballers could should they wish. Given the financial rewards for success it seems a little naive to believe it doesn't go on.

This doesn't detract from the talent Messi has in anyway whatsoever though. The guy is a complete genius.

RFUS · May 2, 2011

Bruce Wayne said:
Without doubt, but there still remain numerous physical advantages in football if a player can both keep going for longer AND recover faster in between matches. There have been a few doping cases in football over the years with the likes of Dravid and Stam both caught out in recent times so it would seem to go on. If cyclists still manage to evade discovery I'm certain footballers could should they wish. Given the financial rewards for success it seems a little naive to believe it doesn't go on.

This doesn't detract from the talent Messi has in anyway whatsoever though. The guy is a complete genius.

Ah well, there's a different between talent and stamina.

Messi's talent should never be in question, and to suggest it might be -- even marginally -- the result of illegal substances is ludicrous.

But stamina... well, he seems to play basically every game, in every competition, constantly running and being roughed up... Well I'm not going to say it isn't possible. Obviously it's still conjecture though.

davek · May 2, 2011

He's a little smackhead.

Alio · May 2, 2011

This is one of my favourite Messi goals

2mins ish in, gets clattered, doesn't hold his face for no reason, gets up and scores a blinder.

The only winner here is football.....and Messi

(For Davek x)

[video=youtube;WcYCN6vuDmI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcYCN6vuDmI&feature=related[/video]

tsubaki · May 2, 2011

It should be noted that Messi only went to Barcelona because they were the only ones who would pay for the treatement which helped him out, but there is something a bit weird about the whole deal, and his physical conditioning. How doesnt this challenge break his leg, or smash his ankle to bits?

He was out for 2-3 weeks.

Deleted member 28206 · May 2, 2011

tsubaki said:
It should be noted that Messi only went to Barcelona because they were the only ones who would pay for the treatement which helped him out, but there is something a bit weird about the whole deal, and his physical conditioning. How doesnt this challenge break his leg, or smash his ankle to bits?

He was out for 2-3 weeks.

manxtoffee · May 2, 2011

I wince every time I see that picture.. Ouch!

davek · May 2, 2011

Alio said:
This is one of my favourite Messi goals

2mins ish in, gets clattered, doesn't hold his face for no reason, gets up and scores a blinder.

The only winner here is football.....and Messi

(For Davek x)

[video=youtube;WcYCN6vuDmI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcYCN6vuDmI&feature=related[/video]

I seen him get fouled by Albiol before the goal and point at the player to the ref to get him booked.

The goal on 2 minutes + was pretty ordinary, tbh.