Lionel Messi is obviously destined to score and that is something he has been doing since he turned professional. Or maybe, something he has been doing since he learned how to dribble the football. In his 280 appearances for Barcelona, he scored 245 goals. For Barcelona, he netted 42 goals out of 93 appearances.
For his Barca coach Luis Enrique though, the Argentinean star is more than just an offense source. For him, Lionel Messi could be a great defender, too.
"Messi isn’t only the best for his goals but for his assists," the 44-year old tactician said.
"If he wanted to be the best defender around he would be. He does things that people couldn't do on a Playstation video game console.”
"Messi is the best not only because of his goals but also for his assists," said Enrique. "It is a pleasure and a privilege to have him in the team."
Enrique's praises for his star came after the team's 2-0 win versus Athletic Bilbao. Messi failed to score but provided two assists for returning Neymar Jr. This young season, Messi currently ranks second in goal scoring in La Liga with two while also topping the assist man list, also with two.
There's no concrete proof yet on Messi's individual defense but his overall impact on the game is immeasurable. Neymar, who scored the two goals versus Athletic Bilbao, said that Messi's effect on the team is beyond the pitch.
"Messi is a star. I am improving playing with him," said the 22-year old forward who only came on as a substitute.
Aside from Lionel Messi, Enrique also gave praises to his 'unsung heroes' that helped them seal the hard-fought victory.
"Sergio Busquets’ tactical intelligence, how he interprets the pressure," he added. "He’s a key player for us and the best in the world in his position.
"To be a team that wins titles you must have a good attack and a defensive phase, to be a complete team.
"Sometimes you can play too long and others you can have possession. Getting the right balance isn’t always easy.
"A team is formed to unite different personalities and profiles of players. I’m happy with what I have.”
