"He's impossible to mark" - Micah Richards feels PSG superstar Lionel Messi has got 'absolutely everything' as a player

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has lauded Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward Lionel Messi as a player who has absolutely everything.

Messi once again wowed fans with a brilliant first-half performance in PSG's encounter with Benfica in the UEFA Champions League on October 5.

The Argentinian scored a delightful goal in the 22nd minute, curling past Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.

Many often tout the former Barcelona attacker as the greatest of all time, and Richards has joined the list of football names who believe he is a fully rounded player.

On CBS Sports Golazo, Richards said:

"If you're a defender up against him he's impossible to mark. You can try and go tight, he'll run in behind you. You drop off, he pops up in a little number 10 position. His passing. He's got absolutely everything as a player."

Lionel Messi has started the new season off in impressive fashion following a year of adaptation at the Parc des Princes. Some even wrote the Argentinian off following a return of 11 goals and 15 assists in 34 appearances in 2021-22.

By anybody else's standards those numbers are impressive, but not for Messi.

Messi has eight goals and eight assists in just 13 appearances across all competitions so far this season.

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PSG forward Lionel Messi exacting revenge for Ballon d'Or snub

Lionel Messi is shining this season

Lionel Messi was a shock omission from the 2022 Ballon d'Or nominations, having been nominated for the award every year since 2005.

The Argentinian only made his debut in 2004 which is an astounding feat given the generational names that have played during his career.

At Barcelona, he became a footballing icon, dazzling fans with his quick feet and mesmerizing skills. In 778 appearances for the Blaugrana, Messi scored a remarkable 672 goals and registered 303 assists.

Messi has won the Ballon d'Or seven times during his career and his snub this year has seen him get back to being potentially the very best in the world.

He is flourishing alongside the deadly duo of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Jr. for PSG and could fire them to a first-ever Champions League trophy come May.

Messi has a year remaining on his deal at the Parc des Princes and there have been murmurs that Barca want to bring him back to the Camp Nou.