24 Days Towards the 2022 World Cup: Messi Back to His Best

JAKARTA - The whole of Europe should be worried about the fact that Lionel Messi returned to Barcelona level with Paris Saint-Germain when they knocked out Maccabi Haifa on Tuesday night.

The match ended 7-2 for the French team and it was a win that secured their place in the round of 16.

In the symphony of Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe, La Pulga stands out again, with two goals and two assists confirming the trend: the best Messi is back and Europe is shaking when they see PSG.

He has scored four goals in as many games, plus three assists in the Champions League. Last season, the Argentine played, in total, seven games, with five goals and zero assists.

In Ligue 1, Messi has six goals and nine assists in 11 games, compared to six goals and 15 assists in 25 games in a season which is not bad, but not at the level of the great Messi.

The consequence, perhaps exaggerated, is that he was even cut from the list of the top 30 Ballon d'Or winners in October this year.

The inner circle is clear: Messi's rise if one can call it that, was motivated by several factors. First, the adaptation is getting better. His family is more integrated and his children are, of course, very important to him. Last season, it wasn't easy.

Second, the physical level. Last season, Messi experienced several physical problems. He missed pre-season with PSG due to a break after the 2021 Copa America in Brazil.

Leo watched the first two games from the stands and did not make his debut until August 29 with PSG.

A knee injury forced him to miss two games in September, while in October he missed three more due to a problem with his left knee.

Now, Messi is at his best and Argentina will be even better for that in Qatar.