How Lionel Messi refound his best Barça form

Perhaps it makes more sense to talk of Lionel Messi’s return to form for Barcelona, rather than a change. Because Lionel Messi - like no other footballer - has set his own benchmark for excellence and only he knows the way back to being his best.

Messi has won it all. And everyone has sung his praises and seen how brilliant he is. Last season, however, he suffered a drop in his performance levels in a handful of key games.

The start of the new season, though, has given birth to the 'new old' Messi. And nothing creates excitement in Barcelonismo like the image of a fully involved Messi showing off his high voltage football. That version of Messi is full of magic and commitment, which has already been noted this season in terms of his ball recovery.

Messi knows that his objective is to return to winning titles both collectively and individually and to help Barça deliver on their new project.

As of today, Messi is close to his best version after a short, but intense, process which began in the hours after the World Cup final. With the sadness of the defeat to Germany still raw, he decided to clear his mind.

He devoted himself to rest with his family, firstly in Rosario and then, later, on the Isle of Capri, only breaking his own rules to accompany his friend Deco in a tribute match in Porto.

Last summer he covered 40,000 kilometers between June 15 and July 7, serving advertising and community schemes... not this summer, though.

Instead, this summer served to lay the foundations for the current season on both a fitness level and also on a psychological one - the World Cup was no longer a burden on the crack's back.

He played as well as he could in Brazil, was named the best player and led Argentina to the final, but luck denied him a coronation. But now the World Cup is behind him, he can focus on his club.

The football experience with Alejandro Sabella was not the best, especially at the World Cup. Messi was sacrificed for the team and was a cog in a system which didn't get the best out of the attacking players.

Proof of this lies in Javier Mascherano being the country's best player.

Messi has never been comfortable in both places at once (Argentina and Barcelona). That he gets to start a new chapter under a strong coach like Luis Enrique after the World Cup is a good thing for him; it has swung the pendulum back in Barça's favour.

THE LUIS ENRIQUE FACTOR

Barça’s new boss has been fortunate that Messi agreed a new contract at the end of last season. When the Argentine heard the fans chanting his name on April 20, despite a disappointing season for the club, he knew he wanted to renew.

It was a bitter end to the season, but Leo was still interested in the project for the future. It rings similar to 2008, when after two seasons without titles, Messi wanted to know about the direction of the club. Upon hearing about Pep Guardiola, he was 100 percent committed to the cause.

And it is the same now with Luis Enrique. There is the same 'feeling'.

Perhaps following Guardiola's recipe, Luis Enrique has not been heavy handed with Messi. Like Pep, the Asturian tries to build relationships with his players that will benefit the club.

As the Barça boss said himself, he gives Messi 'total freedom' and while he prepares training sessions, tactics and strategies, Leo always knows that he has freedom.

Already there are signs the training sessions are helping the players to recover their very top gears. Good work in pre-season has forged a strong Lionel Messi.

Despite the minor injury, which forced him out of Argentina's game against Germany, the sensations are good.

He looks fast, confident and very sharp. The tactical system, which has similarities to Guardiola's, suits Messi. The team keep the ball, don't play it as long and don't need Messi to drop so deep in order to get the ball.

Away from the pitch, the Asturian has kept someone around the club who is very close to Messi. In a summer that saw many of his friends (Pinto, Cesc...) leave, it also seemed like Pepe Costa would leave, but Costa stays. That gesture has been highly appreciated by Messi, because Costa is an assistant who has spent many years accompanying him - even on his travels with Argentina.

Completing a great moment for Lionel Messi is his eternal rival: Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese cannot live without belittling everything that Messi does. Fortunately, the Argentine doesn't bite at these comments and, to the contrary of Ronaldo, doesn't respond in interviews, but on the pitch.