>Can we say Messi gets a lot of his space by not chasing the play? Yes, that’s precisely what our research shows.” Bornn said. “Is he doing it deliberately? To

>Can we say Messi gets a lot of his space by not chasing the play? Yes, that’s precisely what our research shows.” Bornn said. “Is he doing it deliberately? To answer that, you’d probably have to ask the man himself.” I will give my own experience, as a TERRIBLE sport player at any sport you can name on earth, and one of the worst soccer players you could met. Still, eventually I was selected for many street plays (were players are more brutal, being the most nerd is a huge disadvantage, and most are very "serios" in the game). WORST, in the streets of Colombia we play "mini soccer"/futsal. Is even more fast paced, the space is limited, and not much time to be idle, and the damm ball is heavier and HURT MUCH MUCH MORE. The goalkeeper is the more insane/brave of all. Is so fast that we don't play for time (like soccer) but up to # of scores (ie: "The game is to the first to score 12") ---- > Is he doing it deliberately? Totally. Just the fact he walks much more and move tell it. In my case, I do it to be usefull as bad player, I become a "strategic hindrance". I play defense most of time, because lack of qualities for offense but also, because I play strategy because my body have not time to act fast :) I always look at the play, and just move to where the ball must come in. Most player get in a hurry when get the ball and try hard to be liberated from the burden -and is true for "professionals" look at plays long enough and it become obvious. So this mean a) pass it fast, or b) run like hell and pass it fast. So, I get into position and suddenly I was always in the most inconvenient of the places for the opposite team. (this was the fact I get selected: People start to note that I ruin a lot of plays!) Rarely I'm able to get the ball, and is easy to overcome me with dribbles. However, disrupt the flow is more than enough. Even when other players let me alone with the goalkeeper, I just move to cover the largest angles in the field, to obstruct them. This work most of time. I force them to fire, or try to get around me, that disrupt the flow and allow to lost control or to the goalkeeper to do his play - In mini soccer, the goalkeeper is more offensive-. Now, because most latin-america players play from young age -mean street soccer- I suspect you quickly get a sense of movement/space faster (mini soccer mean many more plays mean many more experience). And if you have talent, like Messi, apply the same idea and now know how take over the ball? You have the key to victory.