My AtoZ inspirations: I - Lionel Messi, the Messiah aka the Magician

I - LIONEL MESSI, the messiah aka the magician.

"Ronaldo is the best player on Earth because Messi is from another planet."

As much as their rivalry continues to grow and bring the best of both them for almost a decade now, my heart keep racing towards this little magician named 'Lionel Messi'.

And I can't help but draw lines from a Quora post. It states that "Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts."

1. The Pledge
   The magician shows you something ordinary. He runs straight at you as you either cover your territory or try to maintain the pace with him and then he invites you to inspect the ball. You believe you can win the ball from him but he has something else on his mind.

2. The Turn
   The magician takes the ordinary turn and makes it extraordinary. He shifts his body weight and takes a couple of strides away from you. You try to find the reasons but you can't because you are not really thinking. He makes you believe in your confidence to steal the ball from him but you can't clap yet. You've fallen for the trap.

3. The Prestige
   The magician is more ingenious than you credited him so far. He steals the ball from right under your eyes, makes you dance to his tune, takes control of the ball and proceeds towards his next victim and so on and so forth. All you can do is look behind in wonder and read the name on the back of his t-shirt 'MESSI'.

The maestro has grown with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho and more. Yet, he is considered the greatest of all time by many. Messi, at his pace, is a dangerous player with the ball. He sees gaps that few other players can and uses his body to deceive opponents. A treat to watch, I hope his rivalry with Ronaldo continues to grow and they both provide the best of football for years to come.

His game is beauty defined and an art of its own kind. His games give me adrenaline rush and he, according to me, is the best footballer to set his foot on the ground. This magician will be an inspiration for generations to come.