Would think a stats nerd like @
Birdy would appreciate Messi leading Copa America in almost every major statistic from chances created, goals scored, assists, etc. Not to forget how well he played if you actually watched him play in that tournament which I doubt this guy did.
But when you have an agenda against a certain player, like Messi here, all those things go out of the window and you start picking and choosing what you find important and what not
You'll choose the most obscure stats to claim that Dembele is great and has WC potential, but when it comes to Messi we shall just ignore it
OK, It may sound I am on an agenda here,
But that's not it at all:
Argentina NT, as well as Barca before the summer, were molded exactly the way they should to accommodate Messi and his game.
That's why I don't see that much in him topping stats like chances created, or stats like xG chain, and xA
Why?
Because the whole team is structured for Messi to do his thing. And its expectable, under those conditions, to see all those numbers pumped.
But is it really sufficient?
What about the other stats that are never mentioned in the elegies written about him, even on meh or so and so performances?
Like possession losses,
Or the ones for which no stat is yet available: like slowing down play by forcing the whole team to follow his tempo on the ball, OR like not opting for the best option available n the build-up because he will keep the ball on his feet longer than needed?
Yes, concessions in way of playing can be made for someone with exceptional individual talent like prime Messi, because the returns justify it.
Not the same can be said about current MEssi, and
that has been the case for quite a few years, we have witnessed it again and again.
After the 18-19 and the lost CL, the case is closed, no team can ever win something important conceding their way of playing for post-prime Messi (and of course a Copa America is not an important trophy given the level of NTs. It has prestige, sure, but no real difficulty of facing the football cutting-edge forefront)
Whoever doesn't see it, is just too much emotionally attached and does not think clearly
as is the case with most here who grew up adoring Messi
