SUMMARY
- With Barcelona's B side, Messi used to play as a leftwinger.
- Messi was used more centrally as a false nine under Pep Guardiola's era.
Lionel Messi is arguably the best soccer player of all time. The 19-year illustrious career of the Argentine has been widely documented. The 2022 World Cup winner has been highly rated for his goal-scoring pedigree while having the creative abilities of a midfielder, but has Messi ever played as a midfielder?
Messi started his career in the youth setup of Barcelona. With Barcelona B side, Messi used to mainly play as a left-winger. During his early years with the senior side too, the Argentine played primarily at left wing, looking to dribble past full backs to create chances and score goals.
Messi was used more centrally as a false nine under Pep Guardiola from 2009 to 2012. Under the Spanish manager, the Argentine role shifted to being the chief creator in the attack and along with being the main goalscorer with the help of wingers who stayed wide to create more space in the center.
Lionel Messi’s role as a number 10
Messi shifted back to the left side of the attack during the MSN era under Luis Enrique. During these years, Messi created chances for Neymar Jr. and Luis Suárez by dropping deeper in the midfield. The Argentine never played as a midfielder on paper but often occupied the role of a creative midfielder or a number 10 while playing for FC Barcelona and his national team.
The creative burden was increased on Messi after Neymar Jr. left for PSG and Andrés Iniesta moved away from FC Barcelona. The heatmap of the Argentine during the matches towards the end of his Barcelona career resembled more of a midfielder than that of a striker or a left-winger.
Lionel Messi’s numbers as an attacking midfielder
Messi has played 889 matches in his club career but has played only 28 matches in his club career as an attacking midfielder. On the rest of the occasions, he has been listed as a left-winger, secondary striker, or center forward.
As per the Transfermrkt, Messi has played 28 matches as an attacking midfielder. He has scored 15 goals and seven assists in these matches. Most of these appearances came with FC Barcelona. With the Spanish side, he played attacking midfielder on nine occasions for the senior side and on 12 occasions for FC Barcelona B.
Messi, the ATTACKING midfielder, has the MOST ball recoveries and pressing of all PSG players on the pitch 😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/thAm5vIAZA
— M A T 🦢 (@BlancoYMessiii) March 19, 2023
Messi played six matches as an attacking midfielder for PSG, in which he scored two goals and two assists. The role of players in soccer has gone through a dynamic change in the 21st century. In the last decade alone, there have been numerous left-wingers who play completely differently from each other.
Messi’s case has been peculiar, for sure, as the Argentine has occupied a midfielder role in the later half of his career while rarely being labeled as a midfielder. The attacking output of Messi from a deeper role has been sensational, which has often surprised casual fans who rated him as a traditional left-winger throughout his career.