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OptimusJ
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A
four-time world player of the year, Argentina's Lionel Messi is gifted
with talents that most footballers can only dream of. What makes him
special is that he possesses not just one or two but a combination of
special skills that give him an edge over just about everyone.
Although he
hasn't played brilliantly in every game of this World Cup, Messi's
talents have been on display on Argentina's road to Sunday's final
against Germany. Here are five traits that explain what makes the
Argentina captain so difficult to stop.
___
There are
plenty of players who could outrun Messi in a 100-meter dash. But
running with the ball is a different story. Messi can control the ball
at close to top speed, making him an excellent dribbler. Also, it's his
acceleration rather than his top speed that cuts up defenses. Few
defenders can keep up when Messi revs up from standstill, creating space
for his left-foot shot.
___
BALANCE
Like
former Argentina great Diego Maradona, Messi uses his short stature to
his advantage. His low center of gravity enables him to make quick turns
and to stay on his feet when challenged. Often, the only way to knock
him off balance is to foul him. Defenders at the World Cup have been
taking turns tackling Messi to spread the risk of getting booked around
the team.
___
ACCURACY
Messi
is one of the world's top free-kick takers, striking the ball with
impressive accuracy with his magic left foot. Almost always he hits the
target or just misses it — you rarely see Messi blast a free kick five
meters over the crossbar. In Argentina's final group-stage match,
Nigeria gave Messi two free kick opportunities near the penalty area
toward the end of the first half. He elegantly curled the first one over
the wall, but goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was well-positioned and
stopped it. By the second free kick, Messi had fine-tuned his aim, and
struck the ball perfectly inside the post. Enyeama jokingly asked the
referees during the break to not give Messi any more free kicks.
___PATIENCE
Patience
is a perhaps and underrated virtue for a football player, and it's one
that has served Messi well in the World Cup. Every opponent has come
with a plan to stop him, by closing down his space and tackling him as
soon as he touches the ball. As a result Messi has looked out of the
game for long periods. But instead of hanging his head and getting
frustrated, Messi keeps looking for openings, patiently awaiting a
moment when defenders take their focus off him for just a split second.
That's when he strikes. Against Iran, that moment came in injury time
when he scored his second goal of the tournament. Against Switzerland,
it happened in extra time as he set up Angel Di Maria's winning goal
with a piercing run down the middle.
___
INTELLIGENCE
Messi
also stands out for his ability to read the game, mapping out paths to
the opponent's goal in his mind before the opponent does. That's key to
understanding why he's such a prolific scorer. Knowing by instinct where
a gap will open up for a quick pass or shot gives him an advantage over
others, though it can also complicate things for the team. Sometimes
Messi lets chances slip away by being too smart for his Argentina
teammates, who don't gel with him to the same degree as Andres Iniesta
and Xavi Hernandez in Barcelona.
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