Barcelona's Argentine star has played more minutes across the calendar than anyone else in LaLiga, say CIES. With only two from the Premier League above him.
One of the reasons many people believe that Lionel Messi can no longer perform as well as he once did is due to the number of games that he is asked to play in. The truth is, Leo doesn't like to sit out.
Although Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has managed to get him to miss a couple of matches in the Champions League, the data produced in the latest CIES report on minute accumulation confirms that 2020 was a year with plenty of Messi wear and tear. Perhaps more than necessary.
Messi minutes
Incredibly, the Argentine star has been the third most used player across Europe’s five big leagues, accumulating 4,293 minutes of play in the calendar year in games for both Barça and his national team. He is top of the list in LaLiga, and only two players in the English Premier League have surpassed his total: Harry Maguire for Manchester United (4,745) and Rúben Dias for Manchester City (4,344), both defenders.
The problem for Messi is that he is already 33 and although he is adapting his game to help lower the intensity, he is seen as too important to leave out and this is unlikely to aid his longevity in the game. One of the reasons for his continued inclusion is because the Catalan side are struggling to find a consistently high level and he is always the most likely to provide the moment of magic to pick up a win. Just as when under Setién before, in LaLiga and in the Champions League, the number 10 is proving too much of a risk to leave out.
In contrast to this, only one Real Madrid player appears in the Top-10, and like the others mentioned above he is a central defender, Raphael Varane. The Frenchman sits in eighth place with 4,123 minutes under his belt this year. The reality is that Zinedine Zidane has been able to rotate his players better - and has sometimes been forced to (in the case of Karim Benzema) - but has still been able to get what is required, despite it being less than convincing at times.
praneetmessi
311
sad but true they say he is finished man the things this man is doing is very rare anyone who could still play like him scoring 30+ goals and giving 20+ assists in a single season is not a joke GOAT FOR A REASON
Drogon111
286
Before Cristiano left, the LaLiga defenders has to plan and execute their play precisely between CR7 and Messi, but since CR7 left they can focus only on Lionel Messi and it’s pretty damn hard for him to score because they sometimes almost knows his next move...
U.S.A3052497
149
sad but true they say he is finished man the things this man is doing is very rare anyone who could still play like him scoring 30+ goals and giving 20+ assists in a single season is not a joke GOAT FOR A REASON
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Lets copy/paste a picture that is made by a barca fan. All football fans knows the truth, messi never carried a team, he need good players around him else he cant perform
D10S_LM10
135
According to football experts Messi is selfish and play for only Money..
KHETHLWAZ
42
Some come, some go, he reamains and play at his best, 💙❤leo you're a true Legend
Neurer
34
He play those minute 4,293 minutes and scores only nine GOALS
AnubhabChaudhuri
9
He play those minute 4,293 minutes and scores only nine GOALS
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How many goals did Zidane have in his career ? He played as a number 10 throughout his life , that's why Zidane's stats sometimes speak something else to materialistic fans like you . Messi after 16 years , he changed his position to play as a proper number 10 as a CAM . Someone like Maradona who also had depressing statistics as per number of goals because they are involved in build up play not goalscoring . Understand football and then bluff kiddo