The Magic Of Messi

Without a doubt, yesterday's performance by Lionel Messi was one for the ages.

The Argentinean dazzled the more than 95,000 in attendance at the Camp Nou with his sublime skills and crafty moves. After an opening goal by Arsenal that quieted the Barca faithful, a Messi hat-trick scored in a span of 42 minutes was the final blow to the Gunners hopes (see above video).

While we've seen this kind of play before, number 10 has made soccer fans all over the globe start to run out of superlatives to describe his magic. He put in four goals last night, but if not for a couple of missed chances his total could have been even higher.

If you're lining up against him, how is it possible not to be intimidated? So far the pint-sized forward has bagged 39 goals with still a month left in the season. At 22, he has only BEGUN his career in relative terms. And yet he has the look of a hard-nosed veteran and can surgically dismantle opposing teams with the quick movements of his size-10 adidas cleats. As ESPN Soccernet writer Harry Harris put it, he is a "phenomenon."

So after this latest performance, can Messi be called the greatest soccer player of all-time? No. Despite his numerous trophies, his FIFA World Player of the Year award, his Olympic gold medal and his impressive stats, Messi still has something to prove.

What? You may be thinking that I'm crazy. But hear me out.

Messi has had the benefit of playing on a star-studded roster since joining the Barcelona first-team in 2004. This can't go unmentioned as other defenses have had to handle players like Samuel Eto'o, Andres Iniesta, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Xavi as well as Messi. He has never been the sole attacking presence on a roster.

This is a small point, but an important one.

The main hurdle left in Messi's career is reaching to podium of the World Cup Finals. If Messi is able to help Argentina to the top of the pile this summer, then he can be called the greatest this game has ever seen. But until he does that, he will only continue to be in the discussion.

Argentina's qualification for South Africa was unpredictable and unstable. The team narrowly secured the spot on the last day of qualifying. Much can be said that the managerial skills of Diego Maradona hindered his team's ability to perform, but what was also true was that Messi was not on his top form throughout the qualification journey.

But if Messi continues to play like he did last night? It won't be IF he will bring home the World Cup trophy, but WHEN.