Top 5 big game players in the world right now

#4 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi ensured World Cup qualification for Argentina all by his own

People have started doubting Lionel Messi's ability to be an influence in big games, as he was in the past. But, let's not forget the fact that he has scored against every big club he has played against, a bracket that includes Real Madrid, Chelsea, Juventus and Atletico Madrid.

Stretch your memory back to the game where Argentina played Ecuador in a do-or-die situation in the World Cup qualifiers. The Argentinian literally grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck by scoring a hattrick and booked a place for his country in the World Cup.

A loss would have seen La Albiceleste crash out of the competition before it had even started, but when you have Messi playing in your colours, it's highly impossible for such a thing to take place.

However, the one reason why Messi fails to make the top 3 is his abysmal performance against Roma in the quarterfinals of the UCL. The Barca forward failed to find the net when it mattered the most, which is why his ability to win big games on his own has come under the spotlight.

But, not including Messi here would've been a little too harsh, considering the fact that it is inappropriate to judge a player on just one game.