Sensational Lionel Messi Shows the World Why He's the Best in the Business

A couple of weeks ago you could have had the justification to claim that Wayne Rooney was pipping Lionel Messi for the title of the world's best footballer (as well as moving even further clear of old teammate Cristiano Ronaldo).

Not only did Rooney have more goals, he also seemed to be influencing results more single-handedly than Messi. Boy what a week can do when you're as brilliant as the little Argentine wizard.

Just as his crown as the world's best seemed under real threat, Messi put together the most magical week that has been seen in football for some time. A dazzling hat-trick against Valencia was followed by a brace in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Stuttgart in the Champions League. He then proceeded to score a second consecutive hat-trick in La Liga in a simply sensational one-man-show performance against Real Zaragoza.

He also created the penalty for Barcleona's fourth in that game with one of the most unbelievable dribbles you are ever likely to see. And even though he did not become only the second player ever to score three consecutive hat-tricks in La Liga, the little man has still shown the world just how sensational is, and how great he can become if he keeps heading in the right direction.

What has become clear in the last fortnight is that Messi seems to be able to step up a gear or two whenever he chooses, a gear or two more than even Wayne Rooney seems to have. With eight goals in his last four games, and 11 in his last six, Messi has now overtaken the Manchester United forward for the season.

What's more, he has played fewer games than the Englishman, scoring 34 goals in 34 starts in all competitions (with four appearances as a substitute added to that). Rooney, by comparison, has scored 33 in 37 starts, with two appearances from the bench. Messi also leads the way in assists, with nine to Rooney's five. 

We really have been treated to the kind of magic that will see Messi challenge the great Diego Maradona for the crown of the game's greatest ever dribbler of a football, and possibly see him eclipse all who have gone before him as the greatest ever to play the game.

The reason why it is sincerely possible that this may happen is that Messi, unlike certain others who had the potential to become the best of all time (Ronaldinho most notably springs to mind), has the right attitude and professionalism to maintain and in fact heighten his incredible standards.

You will rarely see Messi throw himself to the ground, or roll around as if he's been shot whenever a defender comes within six inches of his mazy runs, a trend that has become all-too popular in football, especially in La Liga. Referees rarely hear a word of complaint from the Argentine, something that has also become a stall-worth feature of the game these days. Even great players like Rooney lose their cool at referees at times (though Rooney thankfully has learned to restrain himself somewhat over the past few years).

Everything about the way Messi operates on the football pitch (as well as off it) constitute what is needed to truly be considered a legend of the game. And with the little man being only 22 years of age, the world can only wait with immense excitement to witness just what incredible heights this little footballing genius will reach.