When was Lionel Messi in his Prime?

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Lionel Messi has spent the last 2 decades proving himself as football's "Greatest of All Time", evolving with the times and since we're approaching the end of the road, it seems an appropriate time to tribute the great Argentine, asking the question: when did he play his best football?

#championsleague #worldcup #argentina #psg #barcelona

[rockgamiasedes]

2007 -2011 : Dribbler messi
2012 -2016: Scorer Messi
2017 -2021: Lone wolf Play maker messi
In all of his stages he has changed adapted to what was required of him. He was one of the very few who has been in prime for almost 15 years consistently.

[schnx]

Just the fact that Lionel Messi can be considered as the best striker, the best assistmaker, the best passer, the best dribbler, the best freekick taker, the best penalty shooter and the best playmaker of all time or at least can be in serious discussion at each category plus being overall at least world class for about 15 years in the most competitive sport in the world, proves what an outstanding sportsman he is and what an outstanding career we are talking about.

[Krato]

Messi's different prime
2009-2012 : Goalscorer, dribbler, trophies, awards.
2015 : Playmaker, complete player, record breaker.
2019 : One man army, carrying the team, statistical anomaly.
2021-2022 : Ultimate comeback, fulfilling the dream and ending the prophecy.

[valentijnbarendse]

The fact that 2013 he was even better than 2012 and wouldve again broken the goal record if he didnt get injured

[ctr]

That assist against Croatia where he totally skinned Gvardiol - a man who Is young, quick, tall, strong, and Europe's hottest defending talent... that was sensational. When you think of messi, the 2022 world cup was the full evolution of messi's attacking abilities. From winger, to striker, to false 9, to playmaker, midfielder, leader.
I don't think anyone will replicate him - his play style, his numbers, his trophies. If we ever do, I suspect I won't be around to see it.

[chanendlerbong]

Two primes of Messi for me
2010-2013 - scoring prime
2015-2019 - complete prime

[roxey]

For me it's the 2018/2019 season when he almost single handedly carried a bad barca team to winning the champions league i will never forget this season

[rhino_]

2009: greatest trophy winner
2010: greatest youngster
2011: greatest UCL performance
2012: greatest goalscorer
2015: greatest playmaker
2019: greatest one-man army
2021: greatest assister
2023: greatest in history

[mohdnazri]

1. young messi (the dribbler)
2. false 9 messi (the playmaker)
3. 91 goals messi (the goalscorer)
4. MSN messi (all 3 above in 1)
5. 18-19 messi (the complete/perfect version)
6. world cup messi (the old but wiser)

[Jeff_x]

I still find it UNREAL that Messi somehow had 30 assists with 73 goals in 2011-12 and that STILL isn’t even considered his playmaking PEAK!

[polpuig]

Unpopular opinion Messi peaked in 2018-19. I cannot stretch enough how much we were carried by two men alone, Messi and Ter Stegen. We weren't better, we hoped Messi did magic, and he did, That's why the Anfield counterback, the team was self destroying and under a bit of pressure crumbled, how we went 3 up in the first leg? Lionel Andrés Messi.

[DLFitness]

Never has there been a player to almost put tears in my eyes. Messi will never be replicated.

[frenkie]

18/19 season was the most complete version of Messi

[grinchoi]

this guy is soooo good he only competes of only different versions of himself. The greatest player ive ever seen by far

[TheLightningPete]

You need to understand that, as an argentinian, Messi is really the argentinian you can be proud of, in and off the field, no scandals, no bad shade. Truly the goat 🐐

[richarddehoop]

Messi around 2009-2011 was just magical. How fast he could change direction while sprinting at full speed, all of the micro touches during his runs. No-one stood a chance, never seen anything since.

[BluesFanUK_]

He hit god mode soon after Xavi and Iniesta left - i've never seen a Club as big as Barcelona be so reliant on one individual. He had better seasons as a dribbler or goalscorer in previous years, but 2017-2021 he was about as complete as an attacking player can get, and he was doing it in a very ordinary Barcelona team - the sides who capitulated against Roma and Liverpool were fucking woeful.

[MuhammadAlFatihFatehmessi]

2022: the man on the mission
2019: one man army
2015: the treble winner
2009-2012: goal top scorer

[bughinbughin]

I dont care what anyone says no one will ever top him. He could do absolutely anything he wanted whenever he wanted by himself there are robots like ronaldo but then their is a genius like messi

[Jeff_x]

The thing with Messi you TRULY don’t know. He was a goalscoring machine with 73 goals and 30 assists in 2011-12. More well rounded with 58 goals and 31 assists in the 2014-15 season and you have his carry job with 51 goals and 22 assists in 2018-19. Truly the GOAT