I am really interested in learning about the progress of Lionel Messi. I saw him in the last game and he was really calm and composed in the way he took the goal. I haven't seen a lot of barca games recently. I thus wanted to know how many chances the kid is getting? This kid is of big importance for barca and the argie nt. How do you think rjikard should use him? How much should he play considering the fact that he is 17 and should be groomed for the future?

Lets start da discussions

When will he get more chances? When he is old enough to drive !!!

Seriously, he is a talent, but what Barca know how to do, is bring youth talent in slow and steady (Xavi/Puyol are good examples). He will get his chances, as he just did, but he will not start a match unless we have MAJOR injury problems.

It's hard to see him being a regular player for the next 3 to 5 years. Barca has good quality in the squad that they seldom has the opportunity to play youngsters. He might be poached by another club, who knows.

If Fabregas is still at Barcelona, would he be well-known as he is now? Honestly, I doubt it.

Our young players will always be for Barca B until they reach a certain age (20 or 21), however good they are.

Rijkaard seem more willing though to play youngsters, he does not feel the urge to purchase, last year he preferred the squad smallish (of course not expecting the injury crisis) to allow youngsters to play and try them out.
He always invites a few youth team players to train with them and to travel on the summer promotion tour. I don't think he will play a lot, but he is bound to get the minutes towards the end to get a feeling for first team football. I don't think he will go elsewhere, yet, remember Iniesta has been with the first team for three or four years and only this year is banging with force in the XI. Xavi played for good for three years, replacing Guardiola. In short he will have some chances, but no risk of being burnt out. Ronaldinho claims he is his little brother.

He should play for now the way he is playing..Used as a sub and play in practice..Once he shows the maturity and strength to keep up with La liga defenders day in and day out should be brought into the field..but one thing that BARCA shouldn't do is burn him out....On the other hand they should give him a chance early so he doesn't get frustrated...HE impresed me with his skill class player....even for this age...

This kid will not leave Barca anytime soon. The club already made his buyout a whooping 100 mil. Xavi's is less than that. And i think they are trying to groom this kid to be the next best thing. They will treat this kid like a treasurer. I just have faith that he will be brought up and bred properly. I wish i could see him more often. I am still crazy about that goal against Albacete.

What position does he play in?

Versitile forward.... think of him as a Saviola type IMO.

he will get his chance probably at the end of next season

does someone know how i can make a rehearsing training in barca? im sure i can play as good as messi.

Just to add a little info.. Messi uses both feet. He'll probably be on sub bench against Valencia since Maxi's injured for the rest of the season.

The next best thing with him and Iniesta in our team, we would be unstoppable for many years to come.

Btw didn't he play LW against Albacete? I thought Dinho played in Eto'os position and Messi took Dinho's.

Of late Ronaldinho has been falling into that middle position behind Eto'o/Messi/Giuly/Whoever.

I think Messi took Eto'o place, but that place is now a LS with Ronaldinho playing that 'media punto' role we all love so much.

pointless topic

very interesting post..... pointless even....

Why don't people understand that Messi is still young? They are nurturing him and bringing him up really well. Small bits of play he gets, I agree that when he gets on he is brilliant and he has produced goals but he is still young. Rijkaard maybe dosnt want to wreck him?

Messi is 18, he's got whole career before him.
Look - real paid 25mln euros for Robinho, who might end like Saviola, cause he is not accustomed to european football. Barca has a great talent, who has been training with the first team, played great in the WC U20 against players older than him and what's more interesting, nobody except Perez has been interested in the young Brazilian while Moratti has asked about our Leo

To be fair, I think plenty of teams were interested in Robinho, just not at the price RM paid.

But that only shows that he is no fantastic player yet. Bet those clubs were from Portugal or mid table in Spain and might be willing to offer less than 10M. At the same time there were rumours that Moratti is willing to pay 30 million for Messi but Laporta ignored the offer as the young Argentinean has 180M clause in his contract.
Milan bought Kaka for 8M - reasonable price for player with no experience in Europe. Robinho is not worth more (remember Gaspart's 36M for Saviola?).

With young players like that, the club is buying for the potential. A club may pay 25 million for a Robinho because not only was he the hottest commodity from the South American footballing world but he also has a huge potential, some of which has already been revealed.

It is tough to measure young players with the value stick when it comes to their selling prices. In most cases, it simply does not become applicable.

But it is very risky to pay that much for a player not experienced enough. Really I can't recall a player from SA (except the mentioned Kaka) to play really well after a transfer to one of the top european clubs.
Romario and Ronaldo both played for PSV, Ronaldinho turned down offers from bigger clubs to join PSG. And then we have Saviola who, in 98-99, was thought to be the second Maradona (as Robinho is the next Pele right now). Who knows how his career would flow if he joined a club in Portugal, France or Netherlands instead of going straight to Barca.

Right. The club is taking the trade-off of a talented footballer with a massive amount of potential right off the bat instead of waiting for someone else to take the first potentially sour bite and take him later on when he is tried and true.

That's business, risks are taken.

One can look at past cases and point of the pattern and so on and so forth but someone has to take a chance, a risk.

But no average club from an average league would pay that much. The money reflects the expectations of the buyer, putting pressure on the player, pressure sometimes he can't bear. New country, new tougher league, new teammates - I just question the decision of real madrid, because right now they need an experienced player, not a one with a talent that just 'might' explode, but doesn't really have to.
They could risk it if the player would mean less but they almost demand him to be another Ronaldo or Zidane while that is not possible.

Robinho himself chose to join RM - he could refuse such a transfer and decide to develop in a smaller club. He didn't, that is a risk for him to. We'll see the result at the end of the season.

Most average clubs wouldn't pay that much because it would simply be deemed as a risk not worth taking. The consequences would possibly be financially detremental.

It is obvious that certain clubs are in a much better position to assume control of the risk. Could he faulter under the pressure? Could he become a dud? Could Madrid end up with a risk gone wrong? Absolutey. However, they could also wind up with one helluva star, a brilliant footballer, an essential piece of marketing and a future football legend all in one.

It is the essence of a risk and like any risk, only time will tell.

Often times that doesn't translate to 'at the end of the season'.

That's right it would be deemed as a risk but not for Real because a risk can be easily swept clean by a Madrid bank.

But this time it is not financial risk (as it would never be for real madrid). They risk their position and results. Real needs good, experienced players. Instead they've taken Robinho letting go Figo - who was the best of the 'galacticos' in the team.

Ooooo I have to disagree that Figo was the best of the Galacticos last season. He stopped many of Madrid's attacks and immediately slowed down the play. He lost his speed so he had to cut back and forth several times to beat a defender. Real Madrid needed Speed. Not outright pace per se but speed of ball movement (which Barca has probably more than anyone right now). Figo slowed the ball movement down tremendously the last 2-3 years. Now Zidane is beginning to do it a bit as well as ronaldo. Zidane is player who is very difficult to disposses so he can hold the ball pretty much as long as he wants to but it slows down the passing.

I agree with you guys that Robinho is a huge risk. Im not entirely sold on him mainly because of his size. This will be exposed particularly in CL. THere is no denying that his technique is out of this world and he is very quick. I think they are going to be cautious with him. The fanbase is already calling for him to start right away but I think that is unrealistic.

I hope that he bulks up a bit just like Ronaldinho and if he does, I think he has the talent and quickness to be one of the best

In the first half of the season Figo was really good. He was one of the few players to run forward with the ball. I agree, he had worse matches (quite many probably), but unlike Zidane, who totally lacks stamina, he was very active. Moreover he uses both legs superbly and can play on both sides as well as in the middle (unlike Beckham this time).

What is more interesting Real let go Solari and Samuel, without getting replacements (Hernan is a superb player and could even play in the first squad; Samuel - n/c). Owen is the next to leave. What is Perez doing??

Samuel and Figo werent bad losses for Madrid. Solari was a different story, but Madrid has no use for wingers and baptista can play in the left side of the midfield.

More importantly Owen isn't going anywere according to Madrid's front office, despite what "The Sun" says.

Its true he was very active, but IMO not in a posititve way. He would slow the attack more often than not.

OK BACK TO THE TOPIC

Messi is really good

I hope he plays many times for Argentina and whoops Brazil everytime they play.

I agree. Messi is really good. And I hopes he plays many times for Argentina and gets demolished by Brazil each time!

^ sure, we'll see. ^

Indeed! That's the fun of it!

He is a good player, he will be one of the best in the future

Messi has been named to the National team again despite the red-card fiasco:

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylc=X3oD...uters&type=lgns

Interesting that Saviola is left out.... he must have nightmares about Messi at this point... poor guy.

Ahahaha Roga.

Messi to start on Wednesday against Juve in the Gamper match.

Nice article

Messi handles 'new Maradona' tag
By Tim Vickery

Last Monday Diego Maradona made his debut as an all-singing, all-dancing chat show host.

Two days later, his successor played his first game for Argentina.

Over the last 15 years an entire production line of Argentine talent has been weighed down with 'the new Maradona' tag.

It is, of course, an easy cliché to fall into.

Nevertheless, there is little doubt that in this time 18-year-old Lionel Messi is the most exciting Argentine talent to have emerged, an attacking midfielder who promises to be able to tip the balance at the highest level.

In June, the little left footer won the World Youth Cup practically single handed, and last Wednesday came his much-awaited senior debut.

By a quirk of history the opponents were Hungary - the very side against which Maradona got his international start.

The two will have very different memories of their debuts. In 1977, Maradona's Argentina won 5-1.

In 2005, Argentina were also victorious, winning 2-1. But Messi was brought on after 63 minutes, and sent off after 65.

But we are not dealing with an ordinary footballer. Although he was on the field for just a minute and a half, his international debut has been judged a success.

Firstly because in his brief appearance, he did not show the slightest sign of being overawed, calling for the ball and gliding past opponents with skill and fluency.

Second, because his red card was a crime against football. Messi burst past a defender, who grabbed on to his shirt to hold him back.

Messi used his arm to try to wriggle free. There was no elbow, no violence - just an attempt to get on with the game.

But the defender fell as if pole-axed, and out came the red card.

This was a hard-fought friendly. There were some rugged tackles, and some blatant dives. Messi did none of this. He made no attempt to cheat.

He was the victim of anti-football, and yet he was the one sent off.

It is hard to think of a refereeing decision more contrary to the spirit of the game.

Back in Buenos Aires, Maradona alleged that the decision was pre-meditated, as if German referee Markus Merk was aware of the significance of the occasion and set out to spoil it.

This is surely going too far. But it felt as though Merk relished the moment in the spirit of a big teacher imparting a lesson to the new boy.

He needs to have a serious think about his approach to the job.

Thankfully Argentina coach José Pekerman was showing more common sense.

Without going overboard in his criticisms of the referee he came to the defence of his player in the best way possible.

"I congratulated Messi because he went out to play his football," he said, and that summed it all up.

Messi has since been named in Argentina's squad for the World Cup qualifier away to Paraguay at the start of September.

And in 20 years time Merk may well have been forgotten, while Lionel Messi could be preparing for his debut as a chat show host.

Thanks for this, it was fun to read.

Looking forward to him playing against Juve.

Messi was just fantastic against Juve. This guy could be a real crack very soon - I think Dinho should start working harder

I read on another Topic on SP that Messi was still a non-EU player?

To my information he's been in Spain/Barcelona since he was 13 years old and already has a spanish pasport. I cant imagine staying all this time there and not applying for one. Please correct me if I'm wrong...

P.S: The other Topic was closed so I couldnt post this there

Be careful with Barca's record with young argentines. We fucked up Riquelme (who was 'the next maradona') and we fucked up Saviola...

I just mighty hope we'll get the best out of this boy and GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

I can't agree with it. Riquelme was very unlucky to join Barca together with v.Gaal. The Dutchman is thoroughly responsible for this. Saviola was rubbish straight from the start really, he proved to be no big talent after all. He never had great technique and the burden of expectations was unbearable for him.
With Messi situation is different - he's been brought up as a footballer already in Barca led by the clubs coaches, taught how to play in Spain, in Europe. Now Rijkaard needs to give him more chances.

thanks cristiano_7, that was a great article. I still get mad reading about that sending off. Ive seen that referee before, and ive always thought he was a football enemy.

Just found another great article on our wonderkid:

Lionel Messi

It takes a special piece of footballing skill to make Ronaldinho stop in his tracks, applaud and bow his head in admiration. But that is what the Brazilian World Player of the Year did in training last week when he watched Lionel Messi pluck a lofted pass out of the air with his toe, swivel round one defender, jink past two more and then cross the ball by swinging his left foot behind his right in a move known as "the rabona", one that only a handful of players in the world (nearly all of whom hail from South America) can master.

This shy 18-year-old forward is the player whom Diego Maradona himself hails as his true successor and the one every Argentinian wants to see spearhead their bid to win the next World Cup. The only problem for Barcelona, and as a consequence for Argentina, is that a bureaucratic oversight could end up depriving them of the services of their prodigy for much of this season's league matches. Although he came to Barcelona five years ago, the club have not done the paperwork that would have allowed him dual citizenship and to become eligible to play for the first team.

Under Spanish Football Federation rules each Primera Liga club is allowed a maximum of three non-European Union players in their squad and Barça have already filled their quota with Ronaldinho, the leading striker Samuel Eto'o and the Mexican international defender Rafael Marquez.

They had been hoping that Messi would not count as a "foreigner" because he had come up through the club's youth ranks and could therefore be seen as an "assimilated" player, but the lack of a definitive ruling over his status has forced them to leave their most prized possession on the sidelines in the league.

Fortunately for Barcelona the same rules do not apply in Europe and Messi is able to play in the Champions' League. In fact, he came on in the second half of their game away to Werder Bremen on Wednesday to win the penalty that sealed a 2-0 victory for the Catalans.

"I'm managing to cope with the situation quite well, but I just hope it is all sorted out soon," the youngster said after the match.

So how good is Messi? Born in the city of Santa Fe, Leo started out in the youth teams at Newell's Old Boys, but his football career came under threat almost before it had started because a hormone imbalance threatened to inhibit his growth. No Argentinian club was prepared to finance the expensive treatment, so his father Jorge decided to take him to Spain to try his luck with Barcelona. It took just a few touches of the ball for Messi to convince the then Barça coach, Carlos Rexach.

"I signed him up in half a minute and we signed a symbolic first contract on the back of a napkin," he said. "I knew immediately that he had everything needed to be a footballing superstar." His 31 goals in 38 games for the Barça junior teams brought Messi to the notice of the coach, Frank Rijkaard, who made him the third youngest player ever to play for the senior side when he gave him his debut in a friendly against Porto in November 2003 at the age of 16.

Last term he made his European debut in the Champions' League against Shakhtar Donetsk and played his first league match against city rivals Espanyol in October. He became the youngest player ever to score for the first team with a last-minute lob in the 2-0 win against Albacete.

In June, Messi steered Argentina to a record fifth triumph in the World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. He converted two penalties to lead his side to a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final and, like Maradona before him, he ended the tournament by pocketing both the top scorer and best player awards.

"He's a genius," Maradona said after the victory. "He's a leader who is not weighed down by responsibility and without him this Argentinian team would have no football."

Messi received a call-up for the full national squad for a friendly away to Hungary in August, the same opponents against whom Maradona made his international debut at 16. What should have been a dream turned to a nightmare, though, when Messi was sent off less than a minute after stepping on to the pitch as a substitute as the referee Markus Merk adjudged he had elbowed a defender who had pulled his shirt as he surged through the Hungarian defence.

When the team returned to the dressing-room after the 2-1 victory they found the youngster crying in a corner. The Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo said that even though Messi's debut had been cut short his team-mates knew they were in the presence of a special player. "When Messi came on we were all aware that something had changed and a magical player had come on to the pitch," he said.

Barça fans pray that the club can sort out the paperwork so that one of the most exciting prospects in world football does not end up spending most of the season sitting in the stands.

i wanted to kno wat hormonal illness messi has>>>>>>>>>>>

When he was younger he had a hormonal imbalance that threatened to inhibit his growth. However, he's been treated and is fine now.

BAD NEWS FOR BARCELONA (Sorry to be the bearer of bad news)

Turns out Messi wont play at all this season as the governing bodies in the Spanish League agreed to not make a "special" law letting him and Barcelona have an extra-non EU player.

What came out of this meeting is more alarming for Spaniards as the people meeting agreed and will push for as many as 5 non-EU players per team next year.. this could only be detremental to the LPF and I hope that does not pass..

Thoughts?