scored 200 goals for Barcelona . But the area in which Messi is unmatched is the dribble . He runs at top speed yet with three-quarter steps , allowing him to change direction quicker than any opponent . Because he is always the first to recover his balance after a tackle , he wins endless rebounds .
He also has the good fortune of playing in arguably the best club side ever . In his short career with Barcelona , Messi has won two Champions Leagues , five Spanish titles , three Ballon d ’ Ors for world player of the year , and an Olympic gold with Argentina in 2008 .
Yet his country has never found a tactical system that suits him . As of November 2011 he has only 19 goals in 66 internationals -- disappointing , by his standards . At the last World Cup he was thwarted largely by Argentina ’ s incompetent coach , Maradona himself . If Messi ever excels for his country as he does for Barcelona , he could surpass both his little compatriot and Pele too . For more on Lionel Messi , see the profile in Simon Kuper ’ s Soccer Men .