The 2022-2023 season was the highlight of the glittering career of Lionel Messi. The Argentinian forward captained his nation to the World Cup and enhanced his global reputation after moving to Inter Miami. Linking up with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alaba at David Beckham’s MLS team brings together three of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona team for a final fling in Florida.
Looking back on Messi’s journey to Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami must include the impact of futsal on his game. Futsal is a popular form of soccer because it is played indoors and can be played on different surfaces. The game was created in Uruguay and dominates youth football in South America. Like many of his contemporaries, Messi played futsal as a youth in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina. The town is home to Newell’s Old Boys and was the starting point for the careers of many professional players, including Mauricio Pochettino and Marcelo Bielsa.
The indoor platform of futsal means football boots, https://www.r-gol.com/en/football-boots, are replaced with indoor shoes, https://www.r-gol.com/en/nike-mercurial-indoor-football-shoes-futsal. Even today when Messi takes on MLS clubs in the U.S., the impact of futsal is easy to identify in his game. Most youth players up to age 12 only play futsal in South America to help develop their football technique. Messi’s skills can be directly linked to his futsal career, including his quick decision-making and ability to create in tight spaces.
Any player can follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and develop their futsal skills. The small playing area means players have to react quickly to their opponents. Less time to dwell on the ball means quick decisions are made to keep the ball and create goal-scoring chances.
Futsal skills can translate to the pitch and help players in different ways. The futsal ball is heavier and must be played accurately when passing to a teammate. The heavy ball helps players develop their technique to create accuracy for passing and shooting, with the perfect technique required for shooting with pace and power.
Futsal is continuing to grow around the world. Its dominance in South America is shown by the success of players turning professional and dominating the world’s top leagues. Enjoying futsal is a perfect option for staying fit and working on football techniques in a fast and fun environment.
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