Lionel Messi: Biggest Star in World Football in January 2015
On 5 January, the world of football stopped. A gasp was heard in Barcelona and anxious energy simultaneously felt in London—all at the touch of a screen or click of a mouse: Lionel Messi had followed Chelsea Football Club on Instagram.
Dropped from Luis Enrique's starting XI vs. Real Sociedad on 4 January, the wizardly Argentinian was linked with a move to west London, as exampled by the Daily Express' Anthony Chapman; his social media account becoming something like evidence.
With transfer rumours overblown to possibly the fullest extent possible, Messi was quickly reinstalled back into Barcelona's starting XI four days later in the Copa del Rey against Elche—as his 45-minute absence vs. David Moyes' Real Sociedad assisted in the Blaugrana's 1-0 defeat.
In the domestic cup competition, Messi began his best run of the season. Footballers of his exceptional quality tend to play consistently well, having few troughs and specular peaks, January was one such month for Catalonia's footballing talisman.
September saw Messi score four goals and assist seven times, and in November the attacking savant scored seven goals—January was a combination of both. Playing seven games, Messi scored eight times and assisted his team-mates thrice.
Barca are expected to dominate every game they play, so Messi scoring goals and creating chances comes as no surprise as his team's focal point, but under the stress of his club's ongoing situations—in both the dressing and board rooms—Messi's ability to destroy Spain's domestic competitions must be applauded.
Finding an understanding with €94/£75 million summer accusation Luis Suarez and Neymar, the crisis which seemed all but certain to burst forth receded this January when Messi found himself to be unplayable.
January's schedule had defending La Liga champions and last year's Champions League runners-up Atletico Madrid marked down three times for Enrique's men. Never one to disappear in big moments, Messi scored twice in the triple-header; Barca beating Atleti over two legs in the Copa del Rey 3-2 and in La Liga 3-1.
A hat-trick vs. Deportivo La Coruna in the league was followed in the next league match with two goals and two assists in a 6-0 drubbing of Elche.
Already the top scorer in Spanish league history, El Clasico and the Champions League, at only 27, where Messi finishes his career can only be decided by his health and desire.
The days of 50- and 48-goal Liga La campaigns are likely over as he morphs into a playmaker, taking over for Xavi and Andres Iniesta's inevitable declines; in the current moment, his drifting role on the right flank is working wonders.
Just one point off Real Madrid at the top of La Liga (Carlo Ancelotti does have one game in hand), if Messi can continue this form into February, March and April—further establishing a rapport with his attacking assistants—there seems no reason why the Catalan giants cannot return the league crown to the Camp Nou after a season's absence.
While an argument could be made almost every month that Messi deserves to be world football's "biggest star," his eight goals and three assists—combined with media stress and club strife—firmly cement his place as January's best in show.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
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