Past The 'Keeper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90bUC6Eh0Oc&feature=fvstIt seems so easy for someone so small.

Lionel Messi can’t stop. He won the Footballer of the Year award a few weeks ago and then went to score a hat trick against Atletico Madrid just the other day. Like it was no big deal.

By way of the three goals, he jumped over Cristiano Ronaldo as the top goal scorer in the Spanish La Liga with 24 goals, 2 more than Ronaldo — in 2 fewer games.

In an amazing run by the little Argentine, Messi has scored an amazing 40 goals in 33 games — nearing his already-amazing total of 47 goals in 53 matches last season.

Wow. Words cannot even describe the tear that he is on.

He isn’t be a “pretty boy” like Ronaldo and crave the attention that Ronaldo needs. Messi just steps on the field and turns it into magic without caring about anything else. Of course, he struggled in the 2010 World Cup with his country, Argentina. He didn’t have the same support that his FC Barcelona teammates give and so he didn’t shine the way he was expected to shine.

But with Barca, he is able to create things and beat defenders in ways that do not seem real to the naked eye. He has a great supporting cast, as the attacking combo of Messi, Pedro and David Villa have scored 50 goals in La Liga so far this season.

And get ready for this:

That 50-goal total surpasses the total of any other team in the Spanish league this season.

After watching Messi sprint past his defenders, your jaw will drop in awe and amazement at what this little 5-foot-nothing (OK, 5’6” to be exact) footballer does. He will beat 5 defenders in a full sprint up field and before you know it, he could be back in his defensive end tackling the other team’s forward before he gets a shot off. It is absolutely incredible.

 Messi slithers past defenders, leaving them literally running into each other as they are blinded by the trail he leaves. The Barcelona fans bow down to him every time he scores, as he is looked upon as a near-God.

If he is not a God, he definitely has a bid in the “Soccer God” voting for me.

Here’s what’s going past the keeper today:

The two big names this week that have been rumored to be making moves from their current clubs to Spanish giant, Real Madrid, are Man City striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Atletico Madrid midfield/striker Diego Forlan. Both stories are different from the other. Here’s the lowdown on each:

Adebayor.

The Togo international’s move to Real Madrid has been completed. Yesterday was his first training session with the club and his time with Real looks to be long-term, according to Goal.com.

Ryan’s Take:

Adebayor can pose problems for any defense he faces up against. His combination of length, speed, and, of course, scoring prowess, is one that few players in today’s game have. After a troubling season so far with Manchester City, it was clearly time for him to make a move. With Carlos Tevez captaining the squad from the forward position and with the new signing of Bosnian wonder, Edin Dzeko, space for Adebayor was clearly limited. Real Madrid could definitely be a good place for him with Higuain coming off back surgery and French star Karim Benzema out of form, but he will have to prove himself at the Bernabau. Mourinho has expressed his interest in keeping the striker for the remainder of the year despite his large contract, so he should at least come in with confidence.

Here is some more info about Real’s latest signing…

Adebayor and Real Madrid

Adebayor with Arsenal (before Manchester City) <— this is why he’s a wanted player!

Forlan.

Diego Forlan is a world-class star. The guy won the Golden Ball for being named the Player of the Tournament at this summer’s World Cup. And according to The Independent, he was wanted by Real Madrid before Adebayor was but was not for sale by his current club. Now, he will stay with Atletico, most likely for the remainder of his contract.

Ryan’s Take:

It’s a good thing Atletico wanted to keep Forlan. I’ve never been a fan of Real Madrid, but with the many stars on that team who need the ball at their feet, it would be difficult for Forlan to properly fit in. Maybe a move to another club with a good shot at winning the league would be good, but one that will understand to the maximum the type of play and professionalism that Forlan will bring to their team and work the ball through him.

Here’s why he was given the Golden Ball at the World Cup 2010.