Messi Enhanced Odds
He is one of the greatest players the world has ever seen and whenever Lionel Messi plays, the live TV cameras are never far behind. The Argentinian striker is a legend at his Catalan club and while he has yet to really enjoy success with his country, he has won every domestic honour in the game.
With Messi’s Barca being a popular pick for live TV coverage, the bookmakers will also be out in force with a host of enhanced odds offers in the individual goal scorer markets and when these promos appear, there are a number of good reasons to get involved.
Club Career
Messi is a one-club man, having joined the Barcelona youth set up in 2001, after which he progressed through the ranks before making his full, first team debut in 2004. He has broken many scoring records since, recording over 300 league goals for the Catalan side at an incredible average that reaches nearly a goal every game.
It’s a similar story in the cup competitions too where the Argentine is just as prolific but equally as impressive is his injury record. Messi is rarely out of the side due to any physical problems – he is simply an amazing athlete and can usually be relied upon to stay involved for the entire 90 minutes. Suspensions are unlikely too with the player staying out of trouble with referees.
There is talk that the player may end his club career elsewhere but it would take an astronomical sum to prise him away from the Nou Camp. Such a transfer fee would definitely break all records and while there is a possibility that he will move on at the end of his career, expect him to be at Barcelona for some time.
International Career
Many will point to Messi’s career with Argentina and say that it has been a disappointing one. It’s true to say that the Barca man hasn’t really set a major tournament alight and that the country hasn’t won a world cup in that period but his goals to game ratio is a good one with 65 strikes in 128 appearances up to and including the end of the 2018 World Cup.
If the bookmakers are looking to provide odds for any major international involving Argentina, there is a strong likelihood that he could be involved in any price boosts within the individual goal scorer markets.
The question does, however, remain in regards to his international future. Messi had announced his retirement from the national side but eventually went back on his decision and made himself available for 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The 2018 World Cup was a subdued one for the striker but he remains available for the national team in the immediate aftermath of that poor showing.
Recent Scoring Record
Season | La Liga | Copa Del Rey | Champions League |
---|---|---|---|
2018/19 | 36 goals in 34 appearances | 3 goals in 5 appearances | 12 goals in 10 appearances |
2017/18 | 34 goals in 36 appearances | 4 goals in 6 appearances | 6 goals in 10 appearances |
2016/17 | 37 goals in 34 appearances | 5 goals in 7 appearances | 11 goals in 9 appearances |
2015/16 | 26 goals in 33 appearances | 5 goals in 5 appearances | 6 goals in 7 appearances |
2014/15 | 43 goals in 38 appearances | 5 goals in 6 appearances | 10 goals in 13 appearances |
2013/14 | 28 goals in 31 appearances | 5 goals in 6 appearances | 8 goals in 7 appearances |
Those are incredible statistics with some campaigns resulting in an average of more than a goal every other game. It’s no wonder that the bookies look to Messi as the first name when they are preparing enhanced odds deals based around this Barcelona side.
The Future
At the start of 2019, Lionel Messi had reached the age of 31 so how much longer can he expect to play at such a high level? We should certainly expect at least one more year with Barcelona but after that, some are starting to speculate that he might end his career with a lucrative switch to a club in Russia, China or the USA.
Such a move is likely to take the Argentinian off the radar as far as most bookmakers are concerned but for the immediate future at least, the host of enhanced odds offers on Messi are set to continue. He is one of the best players we’re ever likely to see and for now, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi remains at the height of his powers.