Messi arrived as the substitute for Eto’o and he stood there with his shirt tucked in. The entire crowd roaringly cheered the number 9 on his way out to the tunnel. It was the 1st of May 2005, and FC Barcelona played against Albacete at Camp Nou. He was not on the starting line-up that included star players such as Eto’o, Iniesta, and Ronaldinho, and would not be seen till the 42nd minute in the last half. The score was 1-0, and Barca was still winning the battle.

The first time Ronaldinho sent the ball flying over the defenders of Albacete, Messi was unfortunately booked for offside. Patronizingly, Albacete’s goalkeeper Valbuena consoled Messi with his hand on the latter’s head. The second time, it was almost the same assist. Messi used the same leg, but this time, it was a goal.

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The seventeen-year-old had scored his first for Barca, and the world had witnessed the genesis of Lionel Messi, the unstoppable. With seven Ballon d’Ors and over four hundred goals scored in La Liga, Messi is today amongst the greatest footballers of all time. Well, on the occasion of his 35th birthday, we go back to a time when Canelo Alvarez speculated what if Leo had been a fighter.

The similarity between Canelo Alvarez and Lionel Messi: What if Leo was a fighter?

Ahead of his fight with Caleb Plant, BT Sport Boxing interviewed the Mexican Phenom and showed him a handful of pictures of other stars. One of them was Lionel Messi. Seeing Leo, Alvarez addressed the Argentine as one of the best players. At this, the interviewer told Alvarez that he felt Alvarez and Messi were ‘similarly built’ – ‘tight and short to the ground.’

On being asked if Messi would be a good fighter, given his stature and will to compete, in four words, this is what Alvarez told:

“Yeah, why not? Maybe.” 

Well, it is true that Messi, instead of a ring, performs on the ground. However, given his dedication and stubbornness with the ball, one thing one has to acknowledge is that he is nothing short of a fighter.

Does Leo have what it takes to be a fighter?

Messi has stamina, and therefore, cardio would not be a problem. Moreover, he understands the movement of the human body exceptionally well. That he rises time and time again, even after he is fouled and physically hurt, proves he has endurance and the will to go on.

He can bend, and he can shoot. Rhetorically speaking, Messi is fluid, and his movement is unbreachable, like the continuous flow of water. He has both heart and composure. Indeed, Messi has all the variables needed for the composition of a good fighter.

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Do you think Messi could have had an equally successful career as a fighter? Let us know in the comments.