The secret to Lionel Messi's
undying brilliance is something simpler than you may think. Top sports
psychologist and mind coach Don Macpherson reveals humility is Messi's secret.
Like all top sportsmen, Messi has this desire to keep improving. Messi is
renowned for his quiet then deadly speed bursts. Barcelona's last outing
against Tottenham saw him soaring high in top form. He led Barcelona to a 4-2
victory scoring two goals, hitting the goal post twice and providing two
assists. Acclaimed British mind coach Don Macpherson who works with many
world-class sports professionals like Premiership footballers, F1 racing
drivers, Wimbledon tennis champions provided some insight into Messi's
brilliant consistency. He said: “There are not that many great athletes
that can stay at the top for as long as Messi has done."
“Most people who are at the top
of their sporting profession will have a significant dip in form and confidence
at some stage. But Messi is the exception.”
“The key factor with him is his
humility,” said Macpherson. “He is humble. And that means he still thinks he
can get better.
“People are calling Messi the
perfect footballer. Perfection is an interesting concept. I used to work with a
top Formula 1 driver. One time he drove a perfect practice lap and was in pole
position for the race itself by a mile.
“I said ‘Well done, a perfect
lap – and he bit my head off’. He said there was no such things as a perfect
lap. There was always something he could do better, some little improvement he
could make.
“It is almost an obsession with
performance with these people. They are at a level that is way beyond most
people but they are still striving for more. They have more desire and energy.
“I have though seen other world
class performers, though, in various sports that cannot keep up those high
standards. George Best was one. It is a question of character. Whether it is
upbringing, environment or even maybe belief, or a combination of those.
“Because Messi has that
humility, he is not arrogant in his confidence. He knows he is the best player
on the world, but he thinks he can always do better.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has that to
some extent, but Messi now at 31 controls his emotions better. He does not
react to decisions, does not show anger when teammates make mistakes, does not
make a fuss when he is injured. He gets on with it.”
Talking of Barcelona's
Champions League game vs Tottenham, Macpherson said: "There was not a flaw
in his performance, not a pass misplaced."
“Visualization is crucial with
Messi. He sees things that bit quicker than other players on the pitch. He has
a calmness about his play.
“He has a developed his
football brain – which was always sharp – and now it is a nano-second ahead of
everyone else. He sees the pass, sees the move.
Macpherson likened Lionel Messi
to legendary Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, saying: “Ayrton Senna used
to say that his brain had been trained, so that while his body was dealing with
one corner on the circuit, his brain was already working out how to deal with
the next. Messi is the same on the pitch.
“I don’t think anyone is born a
world champion. The Japanese have a phrase for it – ‘kaizen’ – it means a way
of life in which a person should always be hungry to improve.
“Messi has it, Michael
Schumacher had it. He would be in the Ferrari garage until late at night with
the mechanics, when all the other drivers had gone home, helping them find a
way to improve the car.”
Do you share Macpherson's
opinion? Let us know in the comment section below.
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