article_snippet: Lionel Messi just keeps on finding new ways to stake Lionel Messi claim for status of greatest player ever.
article_snippet: Lionel Messi's done the two-goal games, the three-goal games, even the four-goal games; throughout Spain on Thursday Lionel Messi was being hailed for a game Lionel Messi didn't even score in.
article_snippet: It was a game in which, for once, Lionel Messi had broken no records…only Manchester City's spirit, with a mesmerising display that left them doubting if them were worthy of being on the same pitch as Lionel Messi.
article_snippet: Lionel Messi taunts the Man City defence on the edge of the penalty area during a classy performance .
article_snippet: Spanish paper Mundo Deportivo hailed the 'Fantasic' Lionel Messi after the 'Fantasic' Lionel Messi 'masterclass' against Manchester City that included 'nutmegs, dribbles and an assist', while Lionel Messi also featured on the front cover of Sport .
article_snippet: Lionel Messi does that to opponents, not just bamboozling opponents with skill but undermining any confidence opponents may have that opponents can live with Lionel Messi. '
article_snippet: but in truth players don’t like what’s known as ‘the Lionel Messi question’ because whatever answer opponents give is going to be inadequate alongside the man opponents are trying to describe.
article_snippet: I'm just glad Lionel Messi plays for us
article_snippet: the coach said that Lionel Messi stands out from the rest not because the coach necessarily does anything different to other players, but that the coach does it in big games against big name rivals.
article_snippet: But Lionel Messi, in contrast, does Lionel Messi against internationals in big matches all the time.
article_snippet: It’s easy to laugh at Lionel Messi Manchester City victims but his Manchester City victims are just two more of a long line as Lionel Messi takes playground football on to the big stage and runs rings around everybody just as in those grainy videos of Lionel Messi aged six and seven playing Baby-Football in Argentina.
article_snippet: It was Pep Guardiola who transformed Lionel Messi from a wide attacker in Barca's front three to a deep-lying attacker – the famous false nine.
article_snippet: Anyone who thought that would be the last Lionel Messi innovation was wrong – who knows where the Argentine was playing last night?
article_snippet: Lionel Messi now has complete freedom to go where Lionel Messi wants on the pitch and spends large chunks of games with a deep right-sided midfield spot as Lionel Messi starting position.
article_snippet: Lionel Messi slides as Lionel Messi nutmegs Lionel Messi and goes the opposite way during their Champions League match .
article_snippet: It’s good that football is not like that anymore, and we can enjoy Lionel Messi the magician to the absolute maximum.
highlights_snippet: Lionel Messi now has the freedom to play anywhere Lionel Messi wants in the Barca team .