Saint Messi

If you pull open the drawer of any hotel table, you will find a copy of the Bible. If you open to the index, you will find many devoted saints. You will find many, but not all. The most recent saint that has been performing miracles in recent years is Lionel Andres Messi. The young Argentine superstar is out of this world, and has shown to be talented enough to make the Bible at least a page longer. All over the world, the media can't stop acclaiming the recently baptized "Saint Messi". Forget about walking on water, what Messi does with a ball makes me wonder if he is God's second son. Behind his boyish face, there is a player filled with talent that spills from his left foot. It's not only talent that has paralyzed this world, but the character makes Messi even more unique.

Messi comes from a financially challenged family in the poorest part of Rosario, Argentina. What follows it thought to only happen in movies. At the age of twelve, his entire family was taken to Barcelona, so Messi could play in one of the greatest clubs in history, F.C. Barcelona. With the smell of old food around him, Messi signed his first contract on a napkin in the club's cafeteria. The club would finance the treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. What Messi was worth back then is not even a fraction to what another team would have to pay for his services. As time passed, Messi grew. He was taller, but there is no ruler to measure his growth as a player. What followed were record breaking seasons. Youngest player to play in Spain, youngest player to score, and youngest player to make you beg for more. In the 2006-2007 season, Messi exploded as a player. At the age of twenty, he was doing what no other veteran of the sport was able to do. This was only the beginning. Each year Messi was playing better. Maradona even called him his “successor”. Experts have tried to explain Messi’s in his early years, but words fail to complete the task. Successful? Talented? Out of this world? Not even close.

A hat-trick in the Santiago Bernabeu against archrivals Real Madrid, showed that Messi was a key piece to Barcelona’s squad. After Ronaldinho left Barcelona, Messi’s modern career started. He had the honor to carry the legendary number 10 on his back. Soccer history’s legends all wore number 10; just Pele and Maradona. Messi proved during the 2008-2009 season that he could be considered one of the greatest players in history. He wrote his name in capital letters for the history books to tell. Every minute he played was a spectacular show. He slid past players with ease; he dribbled with grace, and took shots with more power than a bolt of lightning. Even though last year was the best season Barcelona has ever had, Messi has been playing even better this season. How Messi could improve as a player is a secret that keeps God thinking all night. He not only has his numbers to prove his talent, but watching Messi play is entertainment at its peak. With the World Cup coming up next month, and Messi playing like a biblical figure; Argentina can cruise to a third World Cup. And there is no doubt that Messi can give Argentina many World Cups considering his young age and talent.

Lionel Messi has been performing miracles that go beyond turning water into wine. Goal after goal; match after match; Messi has a smile on his face. He is a boy that can do the impossible with his sacred left foot. Being role model for many, Messi has never been involved in scandals of any sort. With the Argentinean media calling him “God dressed as a soccer player”, the Bible can make room for one more saint. I don’t know the criteria for a saint very well, but what more can we ask from this young all-star?