A fascinating Twitter thread has broken down exactly why Lionel Messi walks around during games and it's actually a tactic.
It's well known that Messi takes his time to get involved for games with Barcelona and even strolls around the pitch in the opening moments.
Many have put it down to Messi analysing the opponent before spotting a weakness - but Twitter user @PausaFutbol may have the true reason.
A Twitter thread has explained the 33-year-old's walking around is actually a way for Barcelona to hold territory deep in the opposing half.
The thread goes on to explain that Messi is actually holding high value positions and since 2017, he's managed to maintaining positions in high value 66% of the time.
For context, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta only manage to register 50% on the same scale.
In December of 2017, FC Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-0. Despite scoring and assisting, Messi hogged the headlines for a slightly different reason. It was reported that the Argentine had walked 83% of the five miles he'd covered during the game.
- Pausa Fútbol (@PausaFutbol) July 25, 2020
Over the years, however, research has trickled in and has shown that Messi's walking is not necessarily an exercise in futility. On the contrary, his languid pace seems intentional.This goes against common football intuition, yes, but it does reveal some interesting things.
- Pausa Fútbol (@PausaFutbol) July 25, 2020
Active movement entails running into open space, whereas passive movement is more about holding space in "high value" areas even when the play shifts elsewhere.
- Pausa Fútbol (@PausaFutbol) July 25, 2020
To determine what "high value" means, Fernandez & Co decided to use the behaviour of the defending team as a yardstick. Defenders usually look to block space that is dangerous relative to the position of the ball, and therefore "high value" can mean different things.
- Pausa Fútbol (@PausaFutbol) July 25, 2020
The research found that in the sample size used (January 2017) Barça's principle space creators were Sergio Busquets, Andrés Iniesta and Leo Messi.Both Busquets and Iniesta acquired space passively about 50% or less of their total. pic.twitter.com/utHAGql5Xl
- Pausa Fútbol (@PausaFutbol) July 25, 2020
Messi, on the other hand, was creating space passively nearly 66% of the time! His walking was allowing Barça to keep territory in valuable space.Here is an example, that was created by the team. Look at how Messi's stationary placement allows Barça room on the right. pic.twitter.com/1v1LfnKWry
- Pausa Fútbol (@PausaFutbol) July 25, 2020
The signing of Arturo Vidal is also mentioned with the tenacious Chilean instructed to be 'Messi's legs' when he starts.
Some have chosen to attack the 33-year-old for his lack of movement on the pitch however.
Former Argentina goalkeeper Hugo Gatti told El Chiringuito per One Football earlier this season: "I'm very Argentinian and Messi is a phenomenon, but he's not a phenomenon now.
"They treat him wrong because they big him up and big him up and treat him wrong. He gets used to it and walks more on the pitch. He has to be better.
"Cristiano [Ronaldo] and him are the two best. Messi has to be better, he's got used to playing at a weary rhythm, walking and those that know football think the same.
"Take off, kid. You have to play well. When there's a player like Messi, like it was with Maradona and Pele, and his team-mates always give the ball to him to win the game.
"They spoil the team and they don't put everything they have into it. The team get used to giving him the ball and not anyone else."
"tactic" - Google News
July 26, 2020 at 11:33PM
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Fascinating Analysis Proves Lionel Messi's Walking Around Is Actually A Brilliant Tactic - SPORTbible
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