Lionel Messi Saving His Goals for Knockout Stage?

Lionel Messi has been the heart of Argentina’s mesmerizing display of attacking football so far in the World Cup Football 2010. Argentina scored 7 goals in 3 group stage matches and most of them were set up by Messi. However, the interesting thing is that the Barcelona striker could not score any goal so far in the tournament.

Now, Argentina is going to face Mexico on 27 June in their Round of 16 match and Messi would be vital for the Argentines against Mexico who have a rock solid defense in the presence of experienced Rafael Márquez and Óscar Rojas. There are many who now believe that Lionel Messi is saving his goals for the later stages of the tournament and he would start scoring from the Round of 16.

Lionel Messi has been in sparkling form over the last couple of years for Barcelona and is currently the best footballer in the world. Though he was fully criticized for his failure to transform his club form into international stage during the qualifying round, the 23-year-old has regained his fine form with Argentina from their opening match in the World Cup.

Messi may have won many titles and accolades with Barcelona and Argentina’s age based teams, but he is yet to win something big with Argentina’s senior side. There is no doubt, he would like to emulate Deigo Maradona’s 1986 success this time in South Africa.

Given his class and recent form, Messi poses huge threat for the Mexicans who troubled Argentina in their round of 16 meeting in 2006 World Cup in Germany.