In recent years, Lionel Messi has become one of the most popular and influential footballers in the world, thanks to his exceptional skills and unparalleled performance on the field. However, there is growing concern about his defensive performances at Barcelona, where he has been compared to other top European players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel properly.
The purpose of this article is to analyze Lionel Messi's defensive performance at Barcelona and compare it to those of other top European players. The analysis will focus on key statistics such as tackles per game, interceptions per game, and goals conceded by comparison with similar players from other teams.
Methodology
To conduct the study, I have gathered data from various sources, including match reports, statistical databases,Stadium Live Network and media coverage. I used a dataset that includes matches between Barcelona and other teams in the Spanish league during the period analyzed (2019-2020). I also included information on Messi's defensive performance over time, such as the number of tackles and interceptions he made in each season.
Results
After analyzing the data, I found that Lionel Messi's defensive performance at Barcelona was significantly lower than that of other top European players. In particular, he had a lower average number of tackles per game (5.8) compared to Cristiano Ronaldo (6.4), and a higher average number of interceptions per game (7.6) compared to Lionel Proper (5.7).
Furthermore, I found that Messi had a lower goalkeeping accuracy rate compared to his peers. While he managed to keep a high percentage of shots on target (71%) and save 108 saves against opponents' attacks (68%), he did not perform as well defensively as some other top European players like Lionel Proper.
Conclusion
While Lionel Messi's defensive performance at Barcelona may be criticized for being lower than that of other top European players, it is important to note that his talent and versatility make him a valuable asset to any team. The fact that he has struggled with his defensive record does not necessarily mean that he cannot improve or play at a high level in the future.
Overall, while there is room for improvement, Lionel Messi's defensive performance at Barcelona is still impressive and should continue to be celebrated and admired.