Is Lionel Messi Almost Finished?

Many American sports fans have probably heard the name Lionel Messi but I'm guessing most would guess he's a tennis player. Yes, he's another handsome athlete from Argentina, which is famous for handsome tennis stars, but Leo Messi is one of the worlds highest paid soccer players. Playing forward for FC Madrid, arguably the best soccer team on the planet, Leo Messi has been nominated or won practically every award offered since he burst onto the scene eight years ago. At only 26, the measure of his greatness is revealed by the fact that there are only two opinions of him - you either love him or hate him. Nobody just likes him.

Leo Messi, like all great athletes, drives himself relentlessly. And, as with all great athletes, he sometimes pays the price with injuries. Yesterday Leo limped off the field with a hamstring injury after only 20 minutes of playing time and its estimated that his recovery time will be 8 weeks. This is the latest in a long string of muscle and hamstring issues that have struck the star down, each one taking him off the pitch for extended periods. 

As great as this guy is, I'm now wondering if this is where the inevitable decline begins. We all know how this works, he'll probably continue to play for years with nagging injuries and continue to have flashes of brilliance. He'll probably become the veteran who spurs his younger teammates to win games beyond their skill levels. I hope I'm wrong. No matter what happens, he'll surely be one of those players that everyone will be talking about for the next 50 years. Viva Leo!

Today's autographed sports memorabilia item of the day is a beautiful 16x20 autographed photo of the man himself, Lionel Andres Messi:

Lionel Leo Messi Autographed 16x20 Photo