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FC Barcelona: Three hopes, one fear

By Sean Maslin

VIGO, SPAIN - OCTOBER 02: Radoja of RC Celta de Vigo competes for the ball with Andrés Iniesta of FC Barcelona during the La Liga match between Real Club Celta de Vigo and Futbol Club Barcelona at the Balaidos stadium on October 02, 2016 in Vigo, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
VIGO, SPAIN - OCTOBER 02: Radoja of RC Celta de Vigo competes for the ball with Andrés Iniesta of FC Barcelona during the La Liga match between Real Club Celta de Vigo and Futbol Club Barcelona at the Balaidos stadium on October 02, 2016 in Vigo, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images) /
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BARCELONA, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 21: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona reacts injured on the pitch during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Club Atletico de Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium on September 21, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 21: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona reacts injured on the pitch during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Club Atletico de Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium on September 21, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) /

The big fear: That Lionel Messi’s tires might be finally showing their wear.

Much like with Mascherano and Pique Lionel Messi has been one of the rocks of Barcelona for years. The statistics do not lie. Since first breaking through with the side in 2004 Messi has scored 316 goals in league play for Barcelona. Very few players could honestly ever really claim that they could even touch a scoring mark like that. It is a testament to him of the career that he has put together at such a relative young age.

But the miles do seem to be wearing on him. His endless commitments to both club and country seemed to finally get to him this summer making a short retirement from the Argentina national team. Although there certainly seem to be some political motivations behind that move what is unquestionable is that Messi does seem to be wearing down. The persistent groin injury that has kept him out of matches also seems to be indicator that his body cannot keep up the pace.

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What would be best for him is to take a month or two break from both club and country duties. Assuming Messi could time his break not during a period where there would be Champions League obligations (say late December-January right around the club break period) the effect would be minimal. With Suarez and Neymar Barcelona certainly have the tools to keep up with pretty much any side in La Liga. Argentina would also still retain his services for World Cup Qualification.

In the end it is up to Messi to make the best decision for his career. Barcelona and Argentina will continue to trot him out for every friendly and exhibition that they can. A banged up Messi is worth exactly the same at the gates as a healthy Messi. But a banged up Messi is quite simply not as valuable on the pitch as a healthy Messi.

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