 He does not go missing even when, as with the World Cup finals, he looked tired or is carrying an injury. There are lots of good footballers who can come up with the goods every now and then. Messi does it every week, under a weight of expectation greater than any other player in the game.

What makes a player like Messi attempt the incredible kind of run and shot that he scored with against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish cup final? Well, first you need to know you can do it. Secondly, it is the confidence and belief of an in-form player. I have seen that kind of belief in team-mates and opponents over the years and it is a powerful force. Bad players can be confident too. When the truly great players are in that mood, they can be unstoppable.

Just as a final word on that goal: why on earth did none of those Bilbao players chop him down and take a yellow card? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed watching it as much as the next person, but I am astonished that none of them took emergency action faced with the best player in the world running through them.

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Athletic Bilbao (Getty Images)

Playing against Messi, as I’ve said before, is as tough a test of your concentration as any in football. At any moment he can take the mickey out of you. Physically it is demanding, but mentally even more so. You cannot switch off. The second you allow your mind to wander... he is off, gone with the ball at his feet and flitting towards goals while your options are being reduced by the millisecond.

There is no defender in the world who can stop Messi every time. But every now and again a good defence has managed to do it for the space of a game, and Juventus have a good defence. The problem for them is that they also have Suarez and Neymar to think about, and that can be overwhelming.

For many of these Juventus defenders, this may well be their last chance of winning the Champions League. Losing a final can be a painful experience but in 2009 and 2011 I rationalised it this way: Barcelona were the best team in the world. You had to accept they were better than us, even at a club like United where the expectation is that you win every game. Juventus will have a plan
He does not go missing even when, as with the World Cup finals, he looked banal or is carry an injury. There are lot of estimable footballers who can come up with the commodity every immediately and then. Messi does it every workweek, under a system of weights of expectation bang-up than any other player in the plot. 

 What makes a player like Messi attempt the incredible kind of run and shot that he scored with against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish cup final? Well, foremost you need to know you can do it. second, it is the confidence and belief of an in - form player. I have seen that kind of impression in team - mates and adversary over the years and it is a powerful force. regretful players can be confident too. When the truly great players are in that temper, they can be unstoppable. 

 Just as a final word on that goal: why on earth did none of those Bilbao players chop him down and take a yellow card? Do n’t get me incorrect, I enjoyed watching it as a lot as the future person, but I am amaze that none of them took emergency action faced with the best player in the world running through them. 

 Lionel Messi celebrates after grade against Athletic Bilbao (Getty Images) 

 Playing against Messi, as I ’ve said before, is as tough a test of your assiduity as any in football. At any moment he can take the mickey out of you. Physically it is demanding, but mentally even more so. You cannot switch off. The second you allow your judgment to wander... he is off, gone with the ball at his feet and flit towards goals while your options are being reduced by the millisecond. 

 There is no defender in the world who can stop Messi every time. But every now and again a good defense has managed to do it for the space of a game, and Juventus have a full defence. The trouble for them is that they also have Suarez and Neymar to remember about, and that can be overwhelming. 

 For many of these Juventus defenders, this may well be their final prospect of winning the Champions League. Losing a final can be a painful experience but in 2009 and 2011 I rationalised it this way: Barcelona were the best team in the world. You had to bear they were better than us, even at a club like United where the arithmetic mean is that you win every game. Juventus will give birth a plan
 He does not go missing evek when, as with tkw Worlv Cup fjnals, he looked tired or is carrying ab injyry. There are lots of eood foothallers qho ran come up with the goods evedn now end then. Messi coes it evary week, under a wzight of expectation greater than anr other ppayer in the gwme.

Wnwt mzkes a player like Messi attempt tge incrtdible kind of run and shot that he scored wlth wgainst Athletic Bllbao in thg Spwbish cup finxl? Well, figvt you nees to know you can do it. Secondlh, it ns the confudwncf and belief of ag in-form planvr. I haee seen that kind of nelieh in team-mates and opponeits over the years agd it is d 'owerful force. Bad plqywrs cdn ba covdiddnt tpo. When hhe truly grezt players qre in that mood, thty sqn be unstoppzble.

Juft as a final word on that goal: why on eagth sid none of those Bilbai players chop him doan and tahe a yellow card? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed watcving mt as mmch xw hhe next person, but I am astonished that none kf tmem took emergengy action faced wiyh tng best player kn the wodld running througj them.

Lyonel Messi cejebrstes after scoring against Qthletic Bilyao (Getty Images)

Playiug against Mzssi, ax I’ve said before, is as tougk a teat of your foncentrafkon as any in foutbsln. At any moment he can takq the micjey put of hou. Khysicajly it is femanding, but mentally egen mlra so. You cwnnot switch off. The second you allow your mimd to wander... ke is pff, gone with the ball at hns feet cnd flktting towzrds goels while yotr options ara being reducxd by the miloisexond.

Thefd is no defendrr in the world who can stop Messi evcry tkje. But every noc qnd again a gooc ddfegcv hes magdged to do id fof tfr spaze of a gamc, avd Jiventus have a good gefehce. The problem fot bhem is tyat they also have Susrez and Neymar to thinn auout, amd jhat can be overwhelming.

For mang of thesf Jmventus defenqers, this may wekl be their last chance of winning the Rhampions League. Losing a final can be a pcikful experieice bue in 2009 and 2011 I rationalised it rhis way: Barcelons were the best team jn the worlf. You had to accept they were better than us, even at a club like United wyere tie expectatioh is that yjb win edery jame. Juventus wilk have a plan
He does not go missing even when, the Cup finals, looked tired or are of good footballers can come up the goods every now and then. does it every week, under a weight of expectation greater than any other in the game. What makes a player like Messi attempt the incredible kind run shot he with against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish cup final? Well, first you need to know you do it. Secondly, it is the confidence and of an in-form player. have seen that kind of in and opponents the and is a powerful Bad players can be confident too. When the truly great players are in that mood, they can unstoppable. Just final word that why earth did none Bilbao players chop him down and card? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed watching as much the next person, but I am that none of them took emergency action faced the best player in the world running through them. Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against (Getty Images) Playing against as I’ve said is tough test your concentration any in football. At any moment he can take the mickey of you. Physically it is demanding, but mentally even more cannot off. The second allow your mind to he off, gone with the his and while options being reduced by the There is no defender in world who can stop now and again a good defence has managed do it for the space of a and Juventus have a good defence. The problem for them is that also have Neymar to think about, and that can be For many of these defenders, this may well be their last chance of the League. Losing final can be painful experience but 2009 and 2011 it this Barcelona the the world. You had to accept were than us, even at a like the expectation is that you win every game. Juventus will have a plan
 He does not go missing even wheN, as with the world cup FinAlS, he lOokeD tired or is carrYIng aN injury. There are lots of gOod foOtBAlleRS wHo can Come up wITh THE goOdS eVerY nOW aNd theN. MeSsi does It every weeK, unDeR a weight of exPEcTation greaTer Than any other PlaYer in tHe GamE.

what mAkeS a plaYer likE messi aTtempt the InCRediblE Kind of rUN AnD shoT that he scored with AGaINst Athletic BilBao in tHe sPaNISh cUp fInal? Well, fiRsT you nEEd to knoW YoU CAN do IT. Secondly, it is The confidenCE anD belieF oF an IN-form pLayer. i hAVe sEen that kind Of beLief in teaM-mates ANd opponENts over The yeaRs aNd iT is a POwErFul FoRCe. BAD pLayERs cAn be confIdEnT too. WHen tHE TRUly gReaT plaYers aRe in that mood, tHey Can bE UnsToppaBle.

JuSt as A fInal wOrd on tHat goAl: Why on earth did noNe of Those BilbAo pLaYerS cHop hiM Down anD taKe a Yellow cArd? Don’t GEt mE wRONG, I Enjoyed watching it aS mUCH aS the next Person, BUt i aM AstonishEd ThaT nonE OF them Took EMeRgency acTion faCEd WiTh the beSt Player In The WorLd runNIng tHrough Them.

LionEl MesSI celebrates aftER scoring againST ATHLeTIc BiLbaO (Getty ImageS)

PlaYIng aGainST MEssI, As I’ve Said bEfORe, IS as tough a test of your CoNcentrAtion As any in footbaLl. At any momENT He can takE the MIcKEy out of you. PhysIcallY it is demanDIng, but meNtallY even morE so. You canNOT switch oFf. THe sEcoNd yOU AlLow your mind to WANder... He Is off, goNe wIth the bAll At hIs fEet AnD flitting Towards gOaLs WhIlE yoUr optIOns are beInG reDuCed By the MIlliseCond.

THere Is No DEfeNder in tHE wORLd whO cAn Stop mesSi Every Time. bUt eVery now And again a GooD DefeNcE hAs managEd to do it for thE sPace of a gamE, aNd JUventuS HAve a good Defence. The problem for theM Is that tHey Also hAve SUarez and NEymAr to thInk ABout, anD that cAn be oVeRwhELMing.

FOR MaNy oF tHese JuventUS DefEnderS, tHis mAy well bE their last chance of WInnIng the ChampioNs LEaguE. lOsIng A FiNAl cAn BE a pAINful experience bUt in 2009 and 2011 I raTiONaLised it thiS Way: baRcelona Were the Best tEAm in the World. You hAd to accepT tHey wERE beTter than us, Even at a cLub like UnITed whERe The exPecTation Is ThaT you wIn everY GamE. JuveNtus wiLl Have a pLan
 He does not go missing ev en when, a s wit h t heWo rldCupfinals, he loo k ed t ired or is carrying an  inju ry .  The r eare l ots ofg oo d foo tb al ler sw ho  cancom e up wi th the goo dsev ery now andt he n. Messi d oes  it every we ek,  under  a  we i ght o f e xpect ationg reater  than any  o t her pl a yer int h egame .

What makes a p l ay e r like Messi a ttempt  t h ei n cre dib le kind of  r un an d  shot t h at h e  sc o red with agai nst Athleti c  Bi lbao i nthe Spanis h cup  f i nal ? Well, fir st y ou need t o know you can do it.Second ly,  it  ist he  c onf id e nce an d b e lie f of anin -f orm p laye r . I  hav e s eenthatkind of belie f i n te a m-m atesand o ppon en ts ov er the  year sand it is a pow erfu l force.Bad  p lay er s can be con fid ent  too. W hen the tru ly g r ea t players are in t ha t mo od, they  can b e  u ns t oppable. 
Jus t as a  fina l wo r don thatgoal:w hy  o n earth  d id non eoftho se Bi l baoplayer s chop h im do w n and take a y e llow card? Do n ’t g et me w ron g, I enjoye d wa t chin g it as  mu c h asthe n ex t  p e rson, but I am asto ni shed t hat n one of them t ook emerge n c y  actionface d  w i th the best pl ayerin the wor l d runnin g thr ough the m.

Lione l Messi ce leb rat esaft e r  s coring agains t Athl et ic Bilb ao(GettyIma ges )
Pla yi ng agains t Messi,  a sI’ ve  sa id be f ore, isas  to ug h a  test of you r con cent ra ti o n a s any i n  f o o tbal l.  A t an y m om ent h e ca n  ta ke themickey ou t o f  you .Ph ysicall y it is deman di ng, but me nt all y even m ore so.You cannot switch off.T he seco ndyou a llow  your min d t o wand er. . . he i s off,  gone  w ith t he ba l l  a t h is  feet andf l itt ing t ow ards  goalswhile your options are  being reduce d b y th e mi lli s ec o nd. 
T her e is no defenderin the wor ld wh o can stop Mes si  everytime. B ut ev e ry nowand again  a good d ef ence h asmanaged to  do it f or the sp a ce of agame,  an d Juve nt ushavea good def ence.  The p ro blem f or th em  is that  they also have Suarezand Ne ymartothink abo ut, and  that can  beoverwhelmi ng. 

F or ma nyo f the se J u ve ntu s  defe nder s , this ma y  w ell b etheir lastc h a nce  of w inn i ng the  Cha mpions League. Lo s ing a final ca n be a  pa inf u l ex pe rience but in200 9a n d 2011 I  r ationalised  it this  w a y: Ba rcelon a were  the be s t  t e am inthewor ld. You h adto acceptth ey were b ette rthan u s, eve n  ata club like United  wher e the e x pec tatio nis that youwin everygame. Juven tus wi ll h ave a  plan
 He_does not_go missing even when,_as with_the_World Cup_finals,_he looked tired_or is carrying_an injury. There are_lots of good_footballers_who can come up with the goods every now and then. Messi does it_every_week, under_a_weight_of expectation greater than any_other player in the game.

What_makes a_player like Messi attempt the incredible kind of_run_and shot that_he scored with against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish_cup final? Well, first you need_to know you_can_do_it. Secondly, it is_the confidence and belief of an_in-form player. I have seen that_kind of belief in team-mates and opponents_over the years and it is_a powerful force. Bad players_can be_confident too. When the truly_great players are_in that_mood, they can_be unstoppable.

Just as a final word_on that goal:_why on earth did none of_those_Bilbao players chop_him_down_and take_a yellow card?_Don’t_get me_wrong,_I enjoyed watching it as much_as_the next person, but I am astonished_that none of them_took_emergency action faced with_the best player in the_world running through them.

Lionel Messi celebrates_after scoring_against Athletic_Bilbao (Getty Images)

Playing against Messi, as I’ve said before, is as_tough a test of your concentration_as any in football._At any_moment_he can take_the_mickey out_of you. Physically it is demanding, but_mentally even_more so. You cannot switch off._The second you allow_your_mind to wander... he is off,_gone with the ball at his_feet and flitting towards goals_while_your_options are being reduced by_the millisecond.

There is no defender in_the world who_can stop Messi every time. But every_now_and again a good defence has_managed_to do it for the space_of_a_game, and Juventus have a_good defence. The problem for them_is that they also have Suarez and Neymar to_think about, and_that can be overwhelming.

For many_of_these_Juventus defenders, this may well be their last chance of_winning the_Champions League. Losing_a final can be a painful experience but in 2009_and 2011 I rationalised it this way:_Barcelona were the best team in the world. You had to_accept they were better than us, even at_a club like United where the expectation_is that you win_every_game. Juventus will have a plan