@jacoballenThink about the sheer span of time required to keep numbers like this up. Lionel Messi racked up 3,368 successful dribbles over his entire career, which beats a hypothetical average of 140 per season across 22 years that only totals 3,080. Then look at his shooting range; he netted 96 goals from outside the box during an 18-year stretch, edging out a scenario where you score five per season for 18 years to get 90. His big-game pedigree is just as wild with 35 finals goals over 22 years compared to scoring in one of two annual finals every year for a total of 22. He grabbed 406 Man of the Match awards over 20 years, surpassing a baseline of 20 per season that would hit 400. Even on the world stage he's ahead, contributing to 21 goals across five World Cup editions when four per edition only adds up to 20. The trophy cabinet check shows 46 wins over 22 years versus two per season totaling 44. His playmaking numbers are equally insane with 377 assists in 20 years against an average of 18 per season reaching 360. Finally, the total goal contributions clock in at 1,223 over 24 years, topping off a hypothetical 50 per season that hits 1,200. Trying to hold these stats together for so many years makes Lionel Messi a footballing anomaly. The author asserts that such a player may never be seen again. #LionelMessi

@jacoballenThink about the sheer span of time required to keep numbers like this up. Lionel Messi racked up 3,368 successful dribbles over his entire career, which beats a hypothetical average of 140 per season across 22 years that only totals 3,080. Then look at his shooting range; he netted 96 goals from outside the box during an 18-year stretch, edging out a scenario where you score five per season for 18 years to get 90. His big-game pedigree is just as wild with 35 finals goals over 22 years compared to scoring in one of two annual finals every year for a total of 22. He grabbed 406 Man of the Match awards over 20 years, surpassing a baseline of 20 per season that would hit 400. Even on the world stage he's ahead, contributing to 21 goals across five World Cup editions when four per edition only adds up to 20. The trophy cabinet check shows 46 wins over 22 years versus two per season totaling 44. His playmaking numbers are equally insane with 377 assists in 20 years against an average of 18 per season reaching 360. Finally, the total goal contributions clock in at 1,223 over 24 years, topping off a hypothetical 50 per season that hits 1,200. Trying to hold these stats together for so many years makes Lionel Messi a footballing anomaly. The author asserts that such a player may never be seen again. #LionelMessi