How Great is Lionel Messi?

Lionel Messi has always been considered one of the greatest players ever to have a football at his feet whether it's for Argentina or for Barcelona.

On Sunday though, that title was definitely set in stone, at least for Barcelona, as Lionel Messi's 2nd goal meant he broke the goalscoring record for club that was long held by Paulino Alcantra, who played for the club between 1912 and 1927.

A goal later sealed Lionel Messi's hat-trick and left Messi's goal tally at 371 - not out too, well not out considering his tender age of 26 too.

Yes, given how many years Messi is likely to play on for body allowing, that final tally could very well be close to 500, if not well past 500.

After all, Lionel Messi is such an integral part of the Barcelona side today just as Alan Shearer was for Newcastle and Thierry Henry for Arsenal, that it is hard to see him not in it, and harder to see him not scoring goals in the famous Catalan red and blue.

Perhaps, that is Barcelona's downfall at the moment too as they have fallen behind the Madrid sides in the La Liga title race - mind you, that can easily be fixed once Xavi and Carlos Puyol's successors are identified and settle into the side (see an earlier blog for this).

Nevertheless, it is rare to come across a player so talented and so vital to a team's success. Indeed, such players come once in a generation - twice if you're lucky.

Pele, Eusebio, Franz Beckenbauer, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane and now Lionel Messi. All of these players were key to their clubs and respective countries.

Lionel Messi is an interesting case in that he is very much a goalscorer but also a creator of chances. His trickery and skill means he opens up space behind defenses enabling teammates to run onto exquisite passes and score. In that regard, he is a bit more like fellow countryman, Diego Maradona - a playmaker who could definitely excel up front but was more effective in a deeper role and setting up passes for his teammates.

What will make Messi one of the true greats of world football is definitely a World Cup success. Messi has definitely struggle to impose the same influence he has at Barca with the national side even if Argentina have some very talented players to choose from. Perhaps, Argentina's midfield just isn't quite as good as Barca's - which happens to be World and European champion, Spain's. Perhaps, Messi just doesn't quite have the same telekinesis and chemistry with his Argentina teammates, Carlos Tevez, Javier Pastore, etc.

Messi has struggled to create his Barca form in blue and white

Mind you, the game has changed so much to the point that the club game is almost far superior to the international game. It means that even if Messi doesn't quite manage to win a World Cup for Argentina, he definitely has plenty to support him being considered one of the greatest players of all time - Spanish, European, World club champion many times over, more than what Pele and Maradona achieved, and only Zidane can boast such an illustrious record.

Whether he is the greatest, it is totally another matter.

Felicitaciones Lionel Messi!