There have been so many stories buzzing around about the super-talented players who could
be the next Messi!
Speaking of which, the Turkish Messi, Arda Guler has joined Real Madrid, which got us
thinking about all the players who were dubbed as the next Messi.
They call them the Egyptian Messi, Salah, the Swiss Messi Shaqiri, the Japanese Messi
Take Kubo, the Catalan Messi Gerard Deulofeu, and many more.
But you know what's funny?
It seems like when the footballing gods were creating Messi, they said, 'Nope, we can't
have an exact copy!'
In other words, not every player has what it takes to be like Lionel Messi.
And here are the reasons.
One of the reasons why not every player can be like Lionel Messi is because of the enormous
pressure that comes with being called 'the next Messi'.
Imagine this: when you're given that title, everyone expects you to perform at a super
high level.
And it's not just fans and teammates who have high expectations, but also the media and
your club.
It's like being in a pressure cooker!
Let me give you an example.
Bojan Krkic, a talented player was once hailed as the next Messi in Barcelona.
He even got to play alongside Messi and joined other big clubs like AS Roma, AC Milan, and
Ajax.
But the pressure to always succeed at the highest level became so overwhelming for him
that he started feeling anxious.
It was like that pressure cooker was turned up to the max, and poor Bojan couldn't handle
it.
Another reason why these "next Messi" players often stumble and fumble is because they get
swept away by the tsunami of media attention.
One day, there's a catchy headline about you being compared to Messi and bam!
Just like that, you're thrust into the spotlight.
Endorsements start pouring in, journalists line up for interviews, and you find your
face plastered on massive billboards.
It's like becoming a rockstar, but instead of a guitar, you're rocking it with shin guards
on the field.
Take the case of the Indonesian Messi, Egy Maulana Vikri, for instance.
When he was compared to Messi, he became an overnight sensation.
Offers from big European clubs started pouring in, from Saint Etienne to Espanyol, and even
Benfica and Ajax.
But here's the twist: he couldn't quite keep up with the European level because, well,
he wasn't physically ready for it.
But did he accept it gracefully?
Nah, not really.
He was so convinced that his skill and talent alone should be enough to shine like Messi.
He even went as far as saying he'd quit football if he couldn't find a club in Europe.
But you know what they say, modern football isn't just about having fancy footwork.
It's also about being physically fit, disciplined, and a whole lot more.
Egy didn't seem to grasp that concept.
So, what happened next?
He decided to part ways with the European dream and hopped over to Slovakian clubs like
FK Senica and Vion Moravce.
But alas, luck wasn't on his side there either.
Eventually, he packed his bags and returned home to play for a team in the Indonesian
top tier, Dewa United.
Lesson learned, my friends.
When you get caught up in the fame game and forget about the other important aspects of
the sport, you're bound to stumble and lose your way.
But wait, there's more!
You see, being the next Messi comes with a big challenge: maintaining consistent performance
over the years.
Messi himself is like the Energizer Bunny of football, always delivering his A-game.
He's won the FIFA Best Player award a whopping seven times, and he thrived at the top level
for over a decade.
Now, let's take a look at some players who were once tipped to be the next Messi.
We have Xherdan Shaqiri and Gerard Deulofeu.
Both of them reached impressive heights in their careers.
Shaqiri played for big clubs like Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Liverpool, while Deulofeu
had stints at Everton, Barcelona, AC Milan, and Watford.
But here's the thing: their consistency didn't quite match up to Messi's level.
Shaqiri, unfortunately, often found himself sidelined due to injuries, and his shining
moments tended to be more prominent in mid or lower-level competitions.
As for Deulofeu, he too struggled to maintain a consistent form throughout his career.
Thus, it's not easy to keep up with the incredible consistency and longevity of someone like
Messi.
It's like trying to run a marathon while wearing roller skates.
Moreover, you gotta have the guts to break free from Messi's shadow, which many fail
to do so.
To truly set yourself apart, you've gotta be bold, daring, and willing to do things
differently.
You can try winning something that Messi hasn't won yet, like a pancake-flipping contest or
a marathon for snails.
Or, how about playing in a league where the great Argentine legend himself has never set
foot?
That's one way to show you're your own person.
But there have been at least 2 more names who were once dubbed the next Messi but have
outgrown such nicknames and eventually, the burden is off their shoulders.
Salah found his success in the English Premier League (EPL), the very league where Messi
has never graced the pitch.
Then we have Odegaard, who's more of an Ozil type than a Messi clone.
While both these players have made a name for themselves, they lack the boldness to
be different from Messi, especially Salah.
Lastly, poor luck can sometimes be the bad guy here.
Unfortunately, two poor souls had the unfortunate luck of facing obstacles that prevented them
from reaching Messi-like greatness at a young age.
First, the Japanese Messi, Takefusa Kabu with all his talent and potential, signed a fancy
five-year deal with none other than the mighty Real Madrid.
He could have been the Madrid Messi.
But fate had other ideas.
Instead of strutting his stuff on the big stage with the first team, Kubo found himself
registered with the U-19 team.
I can almost imagine Kubo's face, thinking he was going to rub shoulders with the likes
of Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema, only to end up juggling the ball with a bunch of youngsters
who probably still have curfews.
Sadly, he left the club without playing a single La Liga match.
Talk about irony.
Just like a rollercoaster ride, Ryan Gauld's story had fans buzzing with excitement.
People couldn't help but compare him to the one and only Messi.
But the Scottish Messi found himself with limited playing time at Sporting.
And to add salt to the wound, he endured not one, not two, not three, but four unsuccessful
loan spells.
Phew, poor chap!
It seems luck just wasn't on his side.
But hey, let's keep our fingers crossed that brighter days are ahead for him.
So, in a nutshell, players touted as the next Messi often fail due to various reasons.
These include struggling to handle mounting pressure, getting carried away with media
attention, lacking consistency and longevity, and sometimes facing misfortune or being unable
to break free from Messi's shadow.
In the end, aspiring to be the next Messi is like aiming to catch a shooting star—spectacular,
but a tough feat to accomplish.
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