Lionel Messi assist king: 3 skills underlying his elite passing vision

Title | Expert explains Barcelona and Argentina legend Lionel Messi’s elite passing vision by detailing three underlying foundational skills, a key part of why he set the La Liga assists record and had a league high 1147 accurate passes into the final 1/3 (Opta Stats) | Football (soccer) biomechanics, skills, and sports science
Here’s a table of contents, header (subheadings):
- 0:00 Intro
- 0:24 20/20 club
- 1:10 Skill #1 - Scanning (after gaining possession, when receiving the ball)
- 2:19 Skill #2 - Anticipation (three steps ahead, only player who parallels Messi in all of sport)
- 3:25 Skill #3 - Timing (facilitates teammates’ scoring odds, controlling space and timing
- 4:21 All in combination
- 4:53 Outro
For those at work or the hard of hearing, I've transcribed subtitles on KZbin so sound isn't required.
For reference, I’m a DPT and youth football (soccer) coach well-versed in sports science and biomechanics, with in-person sports rehab & performance clinics in West LA and Valencia, CA and offering online services.
Feel free to hit me with questions and/or you can always find me on my website or follow on social media:
Website: www.3cbperformance.com/
Twitter: / 3cbperformance
Instagram: / 3cbperformance
Script:
Welcome, it’s Raj from 3CB.
Barcelona and Argentinean legend Lionel Messi is a passing maestro - he led La Liga with 1,147 accurate passes ending in the final ⅓ and broke the league’s assist record at 21, surpassing his former teammate Xavi’s assist record from the 08-09 season.
Messi’s 21 assist, 25 goal season - in just 33 games played due to a calf injury - has him joining Arsenal legend Thierry Henry as the only members of the fabled 20/20 club in the top five European leagues.
Messi’s technical ability - touch, accuracy, and weight of the ball - are immaculate but preceding any of those, he showcases incredible passing vision to pick out the proper pass. In this video, I detail three key skills underlying that passing vision - scanning, anticipation, and timing.
Scanning (mental snapshot)
Prior to any significant movements, Messi will alway scan the pitch and take a mental snapshot.
Whether that’s after winning the ball and then moving into space to setup a pass #17
Or prior to receiving the ball to play the one touch killer ball. #14
Information is power.
Anticipation
Messi uses that information and those mental snapshots to then extrapolate out what’s going to happen.
The only player I’ve seen - across all sports - who possesses a similar level of recognition and passing anticipation is Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
Timing
Lastly, Messi is keenly aware of how pass timing impacts the subsequent chance.
He’s a master at controlling space to make the game easier for his teammates, leading to gilt edged goal scoring opportunities.
Showing it all off
This play exemplifies Messi’s mastery of all three skills.
That’s a wrap for this video. Thanks for watching. My goal is to provide you with in-depth, evidence based, narrative free analysis and you can always find me on IG and Twitter @3CBPerformance. Make sure to sub to the channel and follow along on all social media for the latest updates. 3CB out.

[@3cbperformance]

If you appreciate the channel, please support via subs, likes, comments, and shares on other platforms. All questions and your time spent watching are always appreciated. Feel free to hit me with questions and/or you can always find me on my website or follow on social media: Website: www.3cbperformance.com/ Twitter: twitter.com/3cbPerformance Instagram: instagram.com/3cbperformance/

[@donnel234]

The most underrated channel on KZbin

[@3cbperformance]

appreciate you

[@clarenceoswillvanstaden8270]

I've watched the 4 and great informative information. Explains a lot of Messi's magic that bewildered us. Keep up with me good work

[@justsomeguywithtattoos6267]

I loved that cross reference to Lebron. It's great to see connections between sports

[@3cbperformance]

All sorts of overlap between sports

[@atombaxter1975]

Another great video as always!

[@3cbperformance]

Thanks mate

[@guttularaja]

I love everything about this video. Keep it up

[@3cbperformance]

Cheers, thank you

[@judasopher]

Please keep doing these on Messi and others.Just subbed

[@3cbperformance]

Definitely will

[@atombaxter1975]

Please keep up your great work!

[@3cbperformance]

Will do!

[@samuelpeter8763]

Yay Thx. Love vids😁

[@3cbperformance]

No problem 😊

[@hmmmkay8381]

I love you for this video😁😁♥️👍

[@3cbperformance]

Lol thanks mate

[@lukakunga4993]

Nice job

[@3cbperformance]

thanks!

[@hlogilehlogonolo5438]

But how does he create a mental picture can I practice this?? How does he do it so quickly?? How doesn’t he get the mental picture wrong like isn’t the pitch always moving this guy is an Alien I swear

[@3cbperformance]

That’s a great question

[@thomasanderson2384]

You should also make videos how can we train to play or at least have some of his aspects of his game

[@3cbperformance]

I will be, in the off-season

[@clewin3641]

Sir your analysis is great . Can make about Ramos' defending technique. Please.

[@3cbperformance]

that's a great topic; will definitely do that

[@clewin3641]

@@3cbperformance Thanks yo

[@videepdev8189]

He's too good for the rest!

[@3cbperformance]

He's incredible

[@judasopher]

Can you please do how to train like Messi and what drills we can do just subbed

[@3cbperformance]

I will be in the future; too much going on right now

[@mohammedmaani2119]

Great video....pls make a video on ozil

[@3cbperformance]

It's tough to make videos on EPL because they're really strict with copyright on KZbin

[@clewin3641]

@@3cbperformance then try taking videos from his real madrid and germany matches.

[@zezo7359]

Can you please make a video of how to gain strength in the gym like Messi or how ever yo gain muscles in legs

[@clewin3641]

Workout and eat nutritious foot equalling the workout. Try doing explosive workouts and weighted workouts.

[@3cbperformance]

I'll be releasing those in the off-season

[@zezo7359]

mesram104 thanks man

[@escapematrix5937]

Hii sir can u please make vedios on Cristiano Ronaldo about his off ball movement

[@3cbperformance]

I definitely will

[@escapematrix5937]

@@3cbperformance thank you so much sirr

[@johannes9109]

Please do one on Paul Scholes long pass

[@3cbperformance]

JOHANNES will look into but Toni kroos passing video coming first

[@anirudhs3769]

Yo what's the logo for on the right with tamil written on it??

[@3cbperformance]

Anirudh S that’s not mine. That’s from the video I took clips from

[@anirudhs3769]

@@3cbperformance For a moment i thought you were tamilian.

[@danielbaggins7341]

He should have like 40 assists this season, if it weren't for his team mates wasting many perfect chances that he had created for them.

[@3cbperformance]

I'd have to see more of those chances to comment more but there's also numerous chances that were tough and converted by teammates

[@godofegypt4266]

i noticed the simllarity with lebron

[@3cbperformance]

Absolutely; the elite, elite passers all have that snapshot ability

[@monstergaminghd1083]

Suarez the master of wasting chances😂😂😂😂😂