#4 Is Lionel Messi back to his best?
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A lot is said and written about Lionel Messi, every time he does something on the football pitch or fails to do so. However, there had been a sense of decline about the Argentine ever since the harrowing 4-0 defeat against PSG in the first leg of Barcelona’s round of 16 UEFA Champions League clash against them.
Even when Barcelona completed the historic comeback against the French champions at Camp Nou, it was Neymar who stole the show and talks about the Brazilian being the true heir to Lionel Messi’s throne started emanating from cracks. When Barcelona then succumbed to a 2-1 loss to Deportivo la Coruna it was further emphasised on that may be, slowly but surely the 29-year-old’s powers were waning. There were even rumours that he is not happy with life at Camp Nou.
A tragic international break followed, where Messi was suspended for 4 games by FIFA for allegedly abusing an assistant referee – a claim refuted by the Argentine, having scored the winner in La Albiceleste’s 1-0 win over Chile.
However, against Sevilla, the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner put rest to any of the aforementioned questions. The smile was back on his face, that drop of the shoulder was put to good use and the ruthlessness had returned. He scored two good goals and could have had a hat-trick if not for the crossbar but the signs are positive for the Barcelona faithful ahead of the all important El Clasico and they just need to hope that Messi remains as happy and as effervescent as he was against Sevilla.
