Innovation Blog

Lionel Messi – Legs With Super Creativity

By Shlomo Maital

    

 In the recent April 6 Champions  League football match between Arsenal and Barcelona, two teams that play beautiful, fluid attacking football,   Barcelona star Lionel Messi scored an amazing four goals, as his team defeated Arsenal 4-1. (Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said afterward, “I don’t know how many players in the world can score a goal like that!”).  His team-mate Xavi called Messi’s performance “outrageous!”.   In his fourth goal, Messi raced in on the goal tender, then coolly and audaciously flicked the ball over his head into the net.

    What is Messi’s secret?  What can we learn from him?

    *  The enormous value of overcoming adversity:   Messi will be 23 years old on June 24.Born in Argentina, his parents were working class — his father worked in a factory and his mother was a cleaning lady.  Messi began playing football at age 5 and showed amazing talent at age 8.  He was very very small, but played street ball against far bigger persons than himself, and with alacrity, resilience and speed managed to get around them. His style was forged already in the streets of Argentina. 

   Messi had growth hormone deficiency.  The Argentine squad River Plate, with whose youth team he played,  could not afford the costly treatments, $900 / m. for the growth hormone.  Barcelona’s legendary sporting director  Carlos Rexach heard about Messi and brought him  and his family to Barcelona, home of the world’s best youth football school.     Messi is now a Spanish citizen and is regarded by Barcelona fans as a home bred product.   All his life, Messi has had to overcome defenders far bigger than him, up to 12 inches taller.  Practice makes perfect.

   * …and the advantage of being small:   Messi is only 1.69 m. (5 ft. 7 inches).  He is very small indeed, despite the growth hormone treatments.  But he is tough, and his small size makes him very slippery and hard to defend.  He is able to dribble around any defender, however big and experienced.  And he is tough enough to take fierce tackles without being injured.   Creative people turn their disadvantages into strengths.

     *  do what you love with joy and passion:   Messi has a perpetual smile.  He clearly loves playing football, he loves crafting creative goals, and the joy with which he plays reminds one of Ronaldinho in his prime.   Many star football players are jaded, more interested in women and good times, and play just for the money;  they care little about the team symbol.  Messi cares.  He will be with Barcelona until his career ends, hopefully many years in the future. 

   You can watch Messi’s goals on YouTube.  Be sure not to miss them, at least the fourth one.