By Gary Lineker BBC Sport Watch the World Cup final live on BBC One on Sunday, with Gary Lineker presenting Match of the Day Live from 19:00 BST. There is something not quite right with Lionel Messi at this World Cup. I am the Argentina captains biggest fan and he is the most wonderfully gifted player since Diego Maradona but, here in Brazil, I have been disappointed with what I have seen. Some people might say there is not much wrong with Messi at all, because Argentina are in the final and he has scored four goals to help get them there. But there is no question in my mind that the Barcelona forward has become quite static on the pitch in this tournament. No movement from the magician I watched Messi closely when I went to Argentinas semi-final win over the Netherlands in Sao Paulo, and there was so little movement from him. Yes, the Netherlands put a man on him like everybody else does, but he was very easy to mark. He did not do anything like the amount of running he usually does. I have watched him for years and he always scores a lot of poachers goals by darting into the box late. Lionel Messi touch map against Netherlands Messis only touch in the area against Netherlands was his penalty in the shootout But every time Argentina did attack down the flanks against the Dutch, he did not even try to get anywhere near the area. The only time he touched the ball in their box was when he scored a penalty in the shootout. He has had some magical moments at this World Cup and dug Argentina out of a hole on occasions in the group stage, but his overall performance so far has been staccato. I had a feeling watching him for Barcelona this season that he was saving himself for the World Cup, but he has clearly not been in brilliant physical condition in Brazil. His father says Messi is exhausted and, no matter how much he wants to, it will not be easy for him to turn it on in the final at the Maracana either. He is a special player, and he is still scoring goals, but I am not convinced he will play in the way we know he can because he looks so jaded. I understand the argument that Messi needs to win the World Cup to be elevated to the same level as Maradona in the highest echelon of football. They are both from Argentina for a start. I think it will massively help his case if they do triumph on Sunday, but I dont see it as an absolute prerequisite. But for those who do believe it matters, I dont think it is just about Messi winning this tournament - it is about his performance level, and tiredness has caught up with him.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 17:11:00 +0000
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