Obviously you don’t know the answer to that question. Obviously I don’t know the answer to that question. Not even little Leo Messi himself knows that answer to that question. But now still seems like the perfect time to ask it.
Leo Messi is on top of the world right now. Ten goals in his last four games. His form goes brace vs Almeria, hat-trick vs Valencia, brace vs Stuttgart in the Champions League, hat-trick vs Real Zaragoza. More importantly these haven’t just been any old goals. They’ve been the sort of goals that make defenders curse the day YouTube was ever invented. Even better, Messi’s showing us that anything Diego Maradona or Ronaldo can do, he can do too.
The World Cup is all about seeing the world’s best players on the world’s biggest and best stage, and in 2010 that means Leo Messi and South Africa. So let’s just say that we’re all very excited to see him in action this June. However…
… there’s no guarantee the little man will be waltzing through World Cup opposition defences for Argentina the same way he does for Barcelona. Mostly because his form for the two sides has been very very different. Maybe that’s Messi’s fault, maybe that’s Diego Maradona’s fault. Maybe it’s just one of those inexplicable things. But there’s a very real chance that Leo Messi could disappoint us in South Africa.
Seems unthinkable? Cast your mind back to 2006. Ronaldinho was in the sort of form for Barcelona that Messi is in now. Ronaldinho was the reigning World Player of the Year. Ronaldinho was expected to light up the World Cup in Germany. Ronaldinho didn’t, and we were all disappointed. If Messi fails to ignite in South Africa, then almost the entire World Cup audience will be let down. No pressure then Leo.
