What position does messi play
Lionel Messi is a world-class footballer and a former Ballon d’Or winner. He is the most expensive player in history and has been a key figure in Barcelona’s success since he made his first team debut in 2004 under Frank Rijkaard.
In his career, he has played at a number of positions, including as a second striker and a right-winger, but it is his central False 9 role that has allowed him to show off his best talents most often. In this role, he would drop deep between the defence and midfield, acting as an attacking playmaker and fulfilling centre-forward duties in the final phase of attacks.
The False 9 role is a winger’s dream, with a lot of space to dribble around the opposition defence and make it difficult for them to stop him. It also gives him the opportunity to score clinically from outside the box, which is one of his greatest strengths.
He has a strong balance of pace, dribbling and vision which makes him very dangerous in the open play. He is a free-scoring machine who is able to dribble into the middle of the field and create chances for his teammates.
During his time at Barcelona, Messi started as a number 10 and occasionally played as a False 9 behind a central striker. However, he moved back to the central role under Pep Guardiola in 2009/10, with Suarez and Griezmann pushing out wide.
This allowed him to dribble into central areas more often and use his passing and finishing skills to become a true number 9 in the Spanish league. He was an excellent goal-scorer during this period and was a constant threat for the Catalan club, winning 4 of his 7 Ballon d’Ors during this time.
In his era at PSG, Messi has continued to develop in this role. In fact, he has scored 12 goals and 14 assists in 19 games this season so far. He is back on track and has a chance to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or, but his form has been less consistent than in previous years.
When playing in the right wing, Messi relies on dribbling and vision to get around opponents and find the net. He can also deliver crosses from this position but he doesn’t have the same range of options as on the left wing, and this means he is more predictable when he plays there.
He has a very high overall rating and his ratings for Acceleration and Spring Speed are contrasting, which is why he can score goals with ease in the final third of the pitch. He is also a very good short-passer and long-passer, with a rating of 91 on each.
A great playmaker needs to read the game, think quickly and play simple with only a touch. They should not hold the ball too long, and if they do they should always try to play with an eye for goal. A successful playmaker should also look to help others play better, which is why they are so important in a team.