For years now, Lionel Messi has been considered one of the best footballers ever to play the game. Although comparing the Argentine genius to legends such as Diego Maradona, Pele or Johan Cruyff seemed outrageous at first, his impressive stats in terms of Ballon d`Ors won (five), collective titles conquered (26) and goals scored (439) at only 28 years of age prove that he truly deserves to be considered in such high-calibre company.While Messi`s innate skill is unquestionable, it is the way in which he has constantly adapted to his teammates and evolved into a much more complete player with time which is the most impressive.Football experts generally agreed that Messi had reached his peak in 2012, when he found the net a jaw-dropping 91 times to beat Gerd Muller`s previous record (85) of most goals scored in a calendar year. At the time, the diminutive No.10 was thriving in his role as a false striker and showcasing his lethal goal-scoring instinct week in, week out.Being surrounded by teammates who constantly looked to him to solve difficult situations helped La Pulga break countless records at an individual level but, in clear contrast, Barcelona only managed to conquer the Copa del Rey title as a result. Rivals found it increasingly easy to predict the team`s attacking movements and isolate Messi by piling up to three defenders around him, tackling aggressively and blocking his passing outlets.The arrival of Gerardo Martino as manager in the summer of 2013 was meant to signal the rebirth of Messi, the decisive next step in his evolution under his compatriot`s watchful eye.Disappointingly, the many tactical experiments introduced by the Argentine failed miserably and, what was even more worrying, were taking a toll on Messi`s health. The constant muscular injuries suffered during Martino`s tenure at the Camp Nou really made Cules fear their talisman player might never be able to reach his former level of influence again.