In the world of football, there is no denying that Lionel Messi has been one of the most influential figures in recent years. The Argentine forward, known for his exceptional dribbling skills and technical ability, has become one of the most sought-after players in the world, thanks to his performances on the pitch.
However, while Messi is undoubtedly a great player, he does not have a perfect record when it comes to his midfield ratings. In fact, according to FIFA, only six players have ever received a higher midfield rating than Messi, which is quite impressive considering that Messi has scored more goals than any other player in the history of the game.
One player who stands out from this group is Thiago Alves, who was born in Brazil but grew up in Portugal. Despite playing for several clubs throughout his career, including Inter Milan,La Liga Frontline Real Madrid, and Manchester United, Alves never managed to achieve a high enough midfield rating to compete with Messi. However, he did excel in his youth system and was eventually selected to play for Barcelona as a youngster.
Another player who stands out is Neymar Jr., who was born in Brazil but played for several clubs before finally making his mark at Paris Saint-Germain. While he may not have achieved the same level of success as Messi, he also had a successful career at club level. He won three La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies with Real Madrid, and even won the Ballon d'Or award in 2018.
It is clear that while Messi is a great player, he cannot match the high standards set by other top midfielders like Thiago Alves and Neymar Jr. However, if you ask me, I would say that Messi is still one of the best players in the world, regardless of what other players do.