Why Lionel Messi Is Not Starting: 5 Possible Reasons

Lionel Messi: Why Is He Not Starting?

Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time. He has won everything there is to win at club level, and he is the only player to have won the Ballon d’Or a record seven times. However, in recent months, Messi has been in and out of the starting lineup for Barcelona. This has led to speculation about why he is not playing as much as he used to.

In this article, we will explore the reasons why Messi is not starting as often for Barcelona. We will look at his recent form, his relationship with the manager, and the impact of his age on his playing time. We will also consider whether or not Messi’s absence from the starting lineup is a good thing for Barcelona.

By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of why Messi is not starting for Barcelona, and you will be able to make your own opinion about whether or not this is a good thing for the team.

| Reason | Evidence | Source |
|—|—|—|
| Injury | Messi has been struggling with a calf injury since the start of the season. | [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/soccer/barcelona/story/4411330/lionel-messi-injury-update-barcelona-star-to-miss-at-least-three-weeks-with-calf-problem) |
| Fatigue | Messi has played a lot of football in recent years, and he is starting to show signs of fatigue. | [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/07/lionel-messi-barcelona-fatigue-injury) |
| Tactical decision | Koeman may be choosing to rest Messi for important matches. | [Marca](https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2022/03/08/6227271822601d682e8b4585.html) |

Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time. He has won the Ballon d’Or a record seven times, and he has led Barcelona to multiple La Liga titles and Champions League titles. However, in recent years, Messi has not been starting as often for Barcelona. There are a number of reasons for this, including injuries, age, and form.

In this article, we will take a closer look at each of these reasons and discuss why they have led to Messi not starting as often for Barcelona. We will also discuss whether or not this is a permanent change, or if Messi will eventually return to starting regularly for the club.

Injuries

One of the main reasons why Messi has not been starting as often for Barcelona is due to injuries. In recent years, Messi has been plagued by injuries, which have limited his playing time and ability to perform at his best. Some of Messi’s most recent injuries include a torn ligament in his left knee, a fractured right arm, and a hamstring injury. These injuries have forced Messi to miss significant amounts of time, and have had a negative impact on his team’s performance.

Age

Another reason why Messi has not been starting as often for Barcelona is due to his age. Messi is now 34 years old, and he is starting to show signs of decline. He is not as fast as he used to be, and he is not as able to withstand the physical demands of playing at the highest level. This has led to some questions about whether Messi is still able to perform at the level that he once did.

Form

Finally, Messi has also not been in the best form in recent months. He has been struggling to score goals, and he has not been as involved in the game as he used to be. This has led to some questions about whether Messi is still the best player in the world.

There are a number of reasons why Messi has not been starting as often for Barcelona. These reasons include injuries, age, and form. It is unclear whether or not this is a permanent change, or if Messi will eventually return to starting regularly for the club. However, it is clear that Messi is no longer the same player that he was a few years ago, and he is likely to face more challenges in the coming years.

Form

Lionel Messi has not been in the best form in recent months. He has been missing easy chances, and he has not been able to consistently create and score goals. This has led to some speculation that Messi is simply past his prime.

However, it is important to remember that Messi is still one of the best players in the world. He has won the Ballon d’Or seven times, and he is the all-time leading scorer in La Liga. He is also a four-time Champions League winner.

Messi’s recent form is likely due to a number of factors. He has been playing through a number of injuries, and he has also been dealing with the emotional stress of leaving Barcelona. It is also possible that Messi is simply tired. He has been playing at the highest level for over a decade, and it is natural for his form to decline at some point.

Despite his recent form, Messi is still a major asset to Barcelona. He is a world-class player, and he can still make a difference in games. It is important to remember that Messi is only 34 years old, and he still has a few years left at the top.

Rotation

Barcelona manager Xavi has been rotating his squad more frequently in recent months. This has led to Messi playing fewer minutes, and it has given other players a chance to step up and prove themselves.

This rotation has been seen as a way to manage Messi’s workload and prevent him from getting injured. It has also been seen as a way to give other players a chance to play and develop.

Xavi has been impressed with the way that the other players have stepped up in Messi’s absence. He believes that this rotation has been beneficial for the team, and he plans to continue it in the future.

Injury

Messi has been dealing with a number of injuries in recent months. He has missed several games with a knee injury, and he has also been struggling with a calf injury.

These injuries have taken their toll on Messi’s form. He has been unable to play at his best, and he has been missing easy chances.

It is important to remember that Messi is only human. He is not immune to injuries. The fact that he has been able to play at such a high level for so long is a testament to his greatness.

Age

Lionel Messi is 34 years old. He is still one of the best players in the world, but it is natural for his form to decline as he gets older.

Messi is no longer the player that he was in his prime. He is not as fast as he used to be, and he is not as strong as he used to be. However, he still has a lot to offer. He is still a brilliant passer, and he is still one of the best goalscorers in the world.

Messi is still a major asset to Barcelona. He is a world-class player, and he can still make a difference in games. It is important to remember that Messi is only 34 years old, and he still has a few years left at the top.

There are a number of reasons why Lionel Messi is not starting for Barcelona as often as he used to. His form has not been the best in recent months, he has been dealing with injuries, and he is getting older.

However, it is important to remember that Messi is still one of the best players in the world. He is a world-class player, and he can still make a difference in games. It is important to give him time to get back to his best.

Q: Why is Messi not starting?

A: There are a few possible reasons why Lionel Messi is not starting for Barcelona.

• Injury: Messi has been struggling with a number of injuries this season, including a knee injury that kept him out for several weeks. He has also been dealing with a hamstring injury in recent weeks, which has limited his playing time.
• Form: Messi has not been in the best form this season. He has scored only 13 goals in 26 appearances for Barcelona, which is well below his usual standards.
• Rotation: Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has been rotating his squad in recent weeks, and Messi has not been immune to this. He has started only 17 of Barcelona’s 26 games this season, and he has been substituted off in several of those games.

It is difficult to say definitively why Messi is not starting for Barcelona. It is likely a combination of factors, including injuries, form, and rotation. However, it is important to note that Messi is still one of the best players in the world, and he is capable of turning a game around at any moment.

Q: What are the implications of Messi not starting?

A: There are a number of implications of Messi not starting for Barcelona.

• Barcelona’s performance: Barcelona’s performance has suffered in recent weeks, and the team has lost several important games. This is likely due in part to the fact that Messi has not been available to start.
• Messi’s legacy: Messi’s legacy as one of the greatest players of all time could be affected if he continues to not start for Barcelona. Fans and pundits alike will begin to question whether he is still capable of playing at the highest level.
• Barcelona’s future: Barcelona’s future could be in jeopardy if Messi does not return to form. The team is already struggling, and if Messi continues to not start, it could be difficult for them to compete for major trophies.

It is important to note that Messi is still a world-class player, and he is capable of turning things around for Barcelona. However, the team’s recent struggles have raised serious questions about his future.

Q: What can be done to get Messi back to his best?

A: There are a number of things that can be done to get Messi back to his best.

• He needs to get healthy: Messi’s injuries have been a major factor in his recent struggles. He needs to get healthy and stay healthy in order to perform at his best.
• He needs to find his form: Messi has not been in the best form this season. He needs to find his form and start scoring goals again.
• He needs to be more involved in the game: Messi has been isolated at times this season. He needs to be more involved in the game and create more chances for himself and his teammates.

If Messi can get healthy, find his form, and be more involved in the game, he can help Barcelona turn things around and return to their winning ways.

there are a number of reasons why Lionel Messi is not starting for PSG. These include his age, his recent injury, and the fact that he is still adapting to a new team and league. However, it is important to remember that Messi is still one of the best players in the world, and he is likely to start playing more regularly as the season progresses.

It is also worth noting that PSG’s current manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has a different playing style than Messi’s former manager, Pep Guardiola. Pochettino’s team is more direct and vertical, which may not be as suited to Messi’s playing style as Guardiola’s tiki-taka system. As a result, Messi may need to adapt his own game in order to fit in with PSG’s style of play.

Ultimately, only time will tell whether Messi will be able to regain his best form at PSG. However, there is no doubt that he is still a world-class player, and he will be a valuable asset to the team as they look to challenge for the Champions League title this season.