Is there no end to this man’s talent?

Another landmark was achieved on Tuesday night by arguably the best footballer ever to play the beautiful game. You all know who that man is... Lionel Messi.

The little Argentinean master became only the second player to score 200 goals for Barcelona.

Messi who has now scored 202 goals for the club will no doubt become the highest all time goal scorer for Barcelona when he surpasses ‘Cesar Rodriguez’ record of 235 goals. At the rate he is going he will achieve that by the end of the season.

Messi’s achievements for Barcelona have already be known worldwide these include; the most goals scored in a single season (53), the most goals scored in a single Champions league season (12) and the fastest ever hat trick (17 minutes) in the victory over Real Mallorca at the weekend.

This season Messi has already scored 22 goals and created 11 assists in all competitions for Barcelona and we’re not even halfway through the season yet.

For Barcelona there is no doubt that Messi is a hero and has been for years, although the team collectively make Barcelona a success, Messi plays an enormous part towards the club becoming the best club side in the world.

Agreeably for his country Messi hasn’t been as big an influence and his goal scoring ratio isn’t as high as we all would expect, in his 65 appearances for Argentina he has only scored 18 goals and created 20 assists.

For all those who watch Argentina when they play, it is clear that Messi isn’t as effective when he doesn’t play in the formation or the role he plays in for Barcelona. This has led to a huge debate and a question I have thought about...

“Should Argentina play in the same formation as Barcelona and shape the rest of the squad around Messi?”

This concept is hardly ever used but when you have a player as good as Messi in your side, if Argentina are going to be a success then surely your best player should play where he is used to and most effective in.

Argentina have quality players to work with Messi, in Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria and Javier Mascherano who could play in positions that are similar to Messi’s team mates.

For me the best way for Messi to play is to allow him to run anywhere with the ball between the midfielders and strikers, as with his quick burst of speed and unbelievable control on the ball he can turn nothing into a goal in an instance.

Lionel Messi is the best player in the world and arguably the best player in the history of the game and at 24 he still has years ahead of him to allow him to go on and break all the records he wants to. He is a remarkable role model who can demonstrate to young footballers that with hard work and determination great things can happen.

Daniel Clark