Iniesta did his job too, with that own goal he provoked and the pass to Neymar for the penalty.
"That he took a central role on Wednesday night, when Messi and Iniesta and Suárez seemed to have lost their mojo, did not represent his metamorphosis; it was simply the point at which an old lie was exposed."
Did Smith notice that Iniesta had long been subbed off by the business end of the match?
Did Smith notice that Iniesta had long been subbed off by the business end of the match?
1
To me a very good "inside" chronic of the "remuntada". Messi is not egoist, he has demonstrated it in the pitch often. Ney always has showed determination when "pressing home" is needed and so he did. Thanks for the good exposure of the play.
Also, to say that Messi, Iniesta, and Suarez had "lost their mojo" or are no longer "in their pomp" would suggest that you haven't seen their last two matches, against Celta Vigo and Sporting Gijon, which were gorgeous displays of the beautiful game played beautifully and of the generosity and joy with which the entire team plays.
Neymar had a very public wager with his teammates that he would score two goals against PSG. He took the free kick because he's right-footed. He took the penalty because Messi is the most selfless player ever. He's let others take penalties when he was on a hat trick. He let Neymar take a penalty recently because he hadn't scored in a while and need confidence. Messi celebrated as if he had scored the goal because he is the most generous team player ever.
3
How does one say that Messi, Iniesta, and Suarez "lost their mojo" when each scored or had a hand in scoring?
3
When stuff like this happens, I always think its a good idea for the men who call MLS games to recalibrate their praise for the likes of Jozy Altidore, et al.
Messi and Neymar are like Secretariat and American Pharoah compared to Altidore, who's like "old Tilly" being led to the glue factory.
Good to see, then, that U.S. teenager Christian Pusilic scored his first-ever Champions League goal for Dortmund this week..and what a goal at that! Very Messiesque...full of nerve, grace and finesse....it'll be kids like Pusilic who inspire the five year olds in America to become our Neymars and Messi.
Messi and Neymar are like Secretariat and American Pharoah compared to Altidore, who's like "old Tilly" being led to the glue factory.
Good to see, then, that U.S. teenager Christian Pusilic scored his first-ever Champions League goal for Dortmund this week..and what a goal at that! Very Messiesque...full of nerve, grace and finesse....it'll be kids like Pusilic who inspire the five year olds in America to become our Neymars and Messi.
3
it is called TEAM work; so if Messi realized that Neymar could help the team win this crucial game, it shows great leadership on Messi's part. After all, a true team leader should act on the team's interest and not on the leader's own interest. Alas, this type of leadership is sorely missing nowadays in our politicians across most of the world. Bravo Messi and way to go Neymar; you have all won, and made many Barcelona fans very happy. Keep up the good work.
1
The last three goals were magnificent - Naymar's free kick plus the astonishing cross to Roberto are the stuff of legend.
Exceptional performance from Neymar. Interesting that Messi clearly didn't want the second penalty either (not that it should have been given in the first place. Suarez should have been sent off for a second bookable dive and that's the game over and all these articles about the greatest comeback every would have no place). Not sure why Mr. Smith calls out Beckham in the crass uneducated way that lots of writers too. It's almost like he pays for having such a high public profile. He was a top-drawer player by any yardstick - trophies, clubs, respects from his peers etc. When dropped at Real Madrid because of the pending move to LA it was his teammates who told Capello he had to come back into the team. Played for Manchester United, AC Milan, Real Madrid, PSG - yet gets called out by a writer for no reason at all. To write - "a player of less natural talent than many of his Brazilian counterparts" would have been a fairer statement.
1
Not a dive. Marquinhos let Suarez get goalside of him and then drifted into the Uruguayan without looking. It's a penalty.
As for Beckham, as good as he was, he was never the best player on his club or national team, not even the Galaxy.
As for Beckham, as good as he was, he was never the best player on his club or national team, not even the Galaxy.
3
The goal in the film-clip is an obvious off-side. Barcelona had a 12th player; the referee.
Sergi Roberto was not offside, another player was, but not active.
1
There is no such thing as "no-active off-side", only off-side when the player is behind defenders of the opposite team in front of the goalkeeper at the moment the ball was sent. By the way, two of the penalties for Barcelona are the referee's figment of mind, false decisions. Therefore the referee is punished to quit refereeing the Champions League by the UEFA,
Why did he take the free kick? Because he's right footed and could score from there vs. the very left footed Messi that would only be sending a ball in from that angle. Then there was also that spectacular free kick Ney recently scored in La Liga. That's not a mystery at all.
The more interesting question is why Ney took the pen not Messi? Messi and Ney have both been feeble from the spot in the past, but not this year. But, Messi has not dealt well with sudden death situations, whereas Ney has been clutch for Brazil and Santos.
Ney is a gem. He has worked very hard this season, but sadly wasn't scoring. When he was in the top 3 for Ballon d'Or, Messi missed two months and Ney took most free kick and penalty duties. Once Messi came back, he was on the wing again.
Much is said about diving. I don't think he is a flopper. He gets hacked down a lot and is the most fouled player in La Liga. He is too skilled and fast for even the best defenders in the world. He does fall sometimes, but I think he genuinely falls and gets upset with himself instead of looking for a pen. He also gets up despite all the fouls and falls and keeps on playing. You can't fault a perseverance. I am sure that 50% of Messi's free kicks and pens have come from fouls on Ney. Ney should get assists for those.
Does he party...yep. But, he is committed to his teams, fans, family, and brand. If extras don't disrupt his play, so? Mantle from Messi...no. Ney knows his place.
The more interesting question is why Ney took the pen not Messi? Messi and Ney have both been feeble from the spot in the past, but not this year. But, Messi has not dealt well with sudden death situations, whereas Ney has been clutch for Brazil and Santos.
Ney is a gem. He has worked very hard this season, but sadly wasn't scoring. When he was in the top 3 for Ballon d'Or, Messi missed two months and Ney took most free kick and penalty duties. Once Messi came back, he was on the wing again.
Much is said about diving. I don't think he is a flopper. He gets hacked down a lot and is the most fouled player in La Liga. He is too skilled and fast for even the best defenders in the world. He does fall sometimes, but I think he genuinely falls and gets upset with himself instead of looking for a pen. He also gets up despite all the fouls and falls and keeps on playing. You can't fault a perseverance. I am sure that 50% of Messi's free kicks and pens have come from fouls on Ney. Ney should get assists for those.
Does he party...yep. But, he is committed to his teams, fans, family, and brand. If extras don't disrupt his play, so? Mantle from Messi...no. Ney knows his place.
7
Excellent article and good comment. Neymar is incredible and doesn't get credit for swallowing his pride and playing second fiddle to Messi. Messi has obviously been the best player in the world for almost a decade, but this year it has not been so clear. Messi has had a down year (although his goal-scoring numbers are still up) and Neymar has filled in a lot of the dynamism that Messi used to provide. But Neymar still defers to Messi, letting Messi continue to be the face of the team. On any other team in the world (except maybe Real Madrid), Neymar would be the undisputed #1. But he is biding his time into his mid-20s, which really speaks to his character and desire for winning.
I also agree that Neymar isn't that much of a flopper. Sure, he makes a meal of it when he gets hacked down, writhing around like he was shot by a sniper. But he really gets hacked, more than any other player I've ever seen. It's clear that the scouting report is that Neymar can destroy you, so you should make him think twice by hurting him. And the refs generally allow it because of his reputation as a flopper.
I also agree that Neymar isn't that much of a flopper. Sure, he makes a meal of it when he gets hacked down, writhing around like he was shot by a sniper. But he really gets hacked, more than any other player I've ever seen. It's clear that the scouting report is that Neymar can destroy you, so you should make him think twice by hurting him. And the refs generally allow it because of his reputation as a flopper.
I'd say you haven't been watching matches if you think Messi has had a down year. He's saved the team time and time again, in games where Neymar and Suarez just seemed off. It's not just his goals, it's everything. He's played a deeper, covering for a faltering midfield, and still managed to score more goals than anyone in the league.
PSG had a meltdown. They only managed to score one goal in a game where they were leading in points. Barcelona did well but PSG played terribly. Too much praise for the Catalans. PSG beat them 4 nil just a week ago, no? So what happened to the team?
1
Bit elaborate over Neymar ... perhaps somewhat harsh on Messi!
6
Messi is still "the man," but as the motto states, it's more than a club and therefore more than just any one person. It is a TEAM sport and I think that this attempt to predict Messi's demise is in a word...lame. It's one game and Neymar has finally turned it on albeit late in the season.
2
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going". Well done Neymar!
1
psg ..supposedly top players.on big salaries really collapsed.fans must be incredibly disappointed.
1
Hard to know for sure what was going on between Messi and Neymar, but I suspect it is, as the author states, a case of selfless teamwork by Messi. He knew Neymar was on fire, and he has the strength of character to step aside and let him shine. Messi has done exactly what Neymar did -- grab the game by the scruff of the neck and bend it to his will -- soooo many times over the years, on the biggest stages in the sport. To see him recognize the same kind of magic in another player and be able to let him shine speaks volumes for the his self and the team. Visca Barca!
15
Good teammates and teams feed the hot hand, or in this case the hot foot.
1
Neymar had an excellent game, but Messi is still king at Camp Nou. He has been outstanding this season. Again. Neymar will be the best one day, but not yet.
10
what a performance! what a game!
4
But more to point, Neymar poured into the breach left by the defense focused on Messi and Suarez. That's the point of the trident. You can't contain all three. Pick your poison. If PSG were to ease up on Messi, just imagine what havoc he would have wreaked.
The takeaways of this game are:
1. Poor tactical plan by PSG.
2. Energy, pressure and will from Barça.
3. Wonderful play from the front three -- especially Neymar.
Let's us guard against any talk about the changing of any guard. Messi has 23 goals in La Liga, Suarez 20, Neymar 8.
In the Champions League Messi has 11 goals; Neymar 4; Suarez 3.
Are you mad?