With 9 goals and 13 assists in all competitions, this first-year report card is not ideal, but there are many highlights. Many times fans talk about Messi this season, and they always regret that there are a fewer goals. However, in the past 2 months, Messi has quietly changed in the game.
This time with a left-footed world wave, leaving his own championship mark, in addition, Messi is also trying some other changes.
01. A big change this season: the proportion of right-footed shots on goal has doubled
Messi's goal is the End of the Year World Cup, so he is making some adjustments in the game to better adapt himself to the 34-year-old self and high-intensity defense.
Because both Neymar and Mbappe prefer to move on the left, Messi's attacking starting point on the right is more in line with the team's current resource allocation.
Everyone knows that when Messi takes the ball in front of the big penalty area line, he must block the angle of his left-footed shot. In particular, the most important thing in Ligue 1 is the fast and explosive black players, which is indeed a big trouble for Messi, who is known for his skill and flexibility.
The 34-year-old Messi may be able to shake off multiple defenders who are quick to pick up as easily as he was then, so he will also try to make some changes, this time slaming the ball on the outside and going to the right side, and finally shooting with his right foot is a small change.
Although Messi's shot was blocked, Mbappe's clever pass to Neymar brought a good opportunity, but the Brazilian's right-footed shot was not very reliable.
So far this season, Messi's percentage of right-footed shots in the league has actually increased to 15%, and when he played for Barca last season, Messi's right-foot shot ratio was only 7%, which has more than doubled this year.
02. Messi tries something new: more no-ball runs + more right-footed shots
Messi's change in the game is not just more right-footed shots, but also more no-ball movement.
Messi tried more interspersed and engaging in this game, getting 4 shots on goal and scoring 1 wonderful goal.
When opponents surround Messi, his first choice is no longer to pass, and he will also try some back passes and secondary moves, and find opportunities through the no-ball reception.
This time, when Verratti took the ball, Messi drilled into the ribs of the penalty area to receive the ball was a highlight.
Some of Messi's current options in the game look a bit "civilian". If it is the past, he will cut through people strongly. However, it may also be that Messi, who knows that the Defender of Ligue 1 is fierce and does not want to be injured, will also keep a low profile.
This time walking out of the line and another right-footed shot was still quite threatening. If it weren't for the quick response of the goalkeeper, Messi might have already succeeded.
Obviously, if you can practice the right-footed shot, it may also become an unexpected killing move for the opponent in the World Cup.
03. One Kick World Wave: Shoot down a champion
In the last 11 games since February, Messi's shooting statistics have a very interesting point: no more than five shots on goal, no more than five.
As long as there are 4 shots on goal or equal to 4 times in a single game, a total of 4 times, Messi has scored in 3 games, and many of them have chosen to complete the final blow with a right foot. Not scoring a goal in a game where he only shot 1 or 2 times does not necessarily mean that Messi cannot score, but more because he has a new position.
In this game, Messi scored two right-footed shots on goal, but in the second half he used his favorite way to score a left-footed world wave.
At that time, the 5+3 Rance focused on the left side of Mbappe's side, and after Neymar took the ball, the Rance defender who was originally in front of Messi chose to move sideways, and the Brazilian gave a cross that made Messi very comfortable.
Messi does not need to be sideways after stopping the ball, you can directly find the angle of the shot, I have to say that Neymar as an old partner really understands what messi needs the ball.
Scoring his ninth goal of the season in this way, Messi's shot was still so incomprehensible.
Are you worried that Messi has only scored nine goals so far this season? Perhaps unconsciously, Messi is preparing to do this big thing. It's not that he can't get back to the rhythm of his old goals, but he's also trying to give himself more options in the game.
This foot world wave broke through the goal to win their first Ligue 1 title, and there was no better result than this.
Conclusion:
In order to prepare for the World Cup in Qatar, Messi did a lot of preparations. Joining Paris Saint-Germain, getting a relatively relaxed league environment, but also allowing Messi to better "cultivate internal strength".
Maybe in the short term, the data looks like a loss, but after practicing the right foot and interspersing the connection, maybe there will be a big surprise at the end of the year.