r/MadeMeSmile • u/ControlCAD • Jul 07 '24

Small Success Messi’s bodyguard protecting him at all costs

12.6k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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141

u/DiddlyDumb Jul 07 '24

So there’s maybe like 3 people in the world fit for the job

73

u/InternetStrange8198 Jul 07 '24

He's 37. He's not so fast now. He used to be one of the quickest players though when he was younger

68

u/Nacho17che Jul 07 '24

He was never close to being the fastests, but he was definitely the quickest. His acceleration and changes of direction were always insane.

3

u/vjeremias Jul 07 '24

He was top 10 for like 10 years, not sure what you are talking about

8

u/8ryan Jul 07 '24

I could be wrong, but I feel like in a straight sprint without a ball, he wasn’t the fastest player. There are some insanely athletic soccer players. With the ball and changing direction Messi was probably one of the quickest players.

1

u/vjeremias Jul 07 '24

Messi has been a professional football player for almost 20 years, the game was completely different back then, not so focused on fast players as it is nowadays.

42

u/WorldlySet457 Jul 07 '24

Do you even watch Football? There are SO many players faster than him like every team will have 5-6 players faster than him

9

u/Soleil06 Jul 07 '24

Honestly these days probably everyone in the team is going to be faster than him.

And even a few years ago pure Speed was never his strength. I think his top running speed a few years ago was like 32.5km/h.

17

u/Masca77 Jul 07 '24

Because it's not about top speed, but acceleration in the first 2/3 steps, and change of direction

4

u/Soleil06 Jul 07 '24

Yeah for sure, Messi had and has a lot of other strengths. His absolutly insane agility, balance and acceleration are part of that.

2

u/Whisky-Toad Jul 07 '24

And his ability to stop / start and use speed tactfully to unsettle someone to get that half yard of space you need

1

u/Actual_System8996 Jul 07 '24

Did you watch prime Messi? He spent it running past everyone.

1

u/WorldlySet457 Jul 07 '24
  1. We're not talking about prime Messi. Read the context above, it's about the present. 2. We're talking about the bodyguards pace vs Messi's pace ie without the ball, Messi was really fast with the ball and a lot of players were faster than him without the ball(not saying Messi wasn't fast without the ball)

-9

u/SGTFragged Jul 07 '24

I don't really watch football, but outright pace off the ball isn't as important as being in the right place and ball handling skills. I can be good if you have it, but it's not a requirement.

10

u/KlossN Jul 07 '24

We're specifically talking about Messi's speed and literally nothing else

3

u/FunDust3499 Jul 07 '24

He's like Gretzky. Doesn't really need size or speed

1

u/RobertLeRoyParker Jul 07 '24

I remember Gretzky being really fast in his younger years.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '24

Messi couldn't get Usain so he settled with #2. Good choice, honestly. This guy could easily body slam Usain.