What If: The Archive

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by

Derrick Zhou
in ,

🇦🇷 Does Messi still become one of the greatest players ever?
⚔️ Without tiki-taka, how does he play in Barcelona?
🏆 Can he still win Ballon d’Ors and dominate world football?

Johan Cruyff’s influence shaped modern Barcelona, especially the way they developed players like Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi. Without Cruyff, Barcelona is a completely different club in this timeline—more like Real Madrid, focused on big-name signings instead of homegrown talent.

📌 So, does Messi still thrive? Does he still become a legend? Or does his career take a different path?

Let’s explore.

📌 2003-2005: Messi’s Early Years at a Different Barcelona

In real history, Messi was developed through La Masia, Barcelona’s legendary academy, which was built on Cruyff’s philosophy. He was trained to play quick, short passes, press aggressively, and operate in a system built around positional play.

📌 But in this timeline:

  • La Masia never becomes the elite academy it was in real life.
  • Messi still joins Barcelona in 2000, but he is not taught tiki-taka football.
  • The team plays more direct, relying on individuals like Ronaldinho instead of structured team play.

🚀 Messi still debuts in 2004 under Rijkaard.

  • He is used as a winger, but not as the focal point of the team.
  • Instead of being molded into a false nine, he plays more like Cristiano Ronaldo—a wide forward with freedom to dribble.

📌 2006-2008: The Ronaldinho Era – Messi Learns from a Different Master

In real history, Ronaldinho mentored Messi in a system that gradually shifted to tiki-taka. But in this timeline:

📌 Barcelona still win La Liga in 2005 & 2006.
📌 2006 Champions League Final (Arsenal vs. Barcelona) still happens.

  • But Barcelona lose to Wenger’s Arsenal, 2-1 (instead of beating them in real history).

📌 How Messi develops differently:

  • He plays more as an explosive, dribble-heavy winger instead of a playmaker.
  • No structured positional play—instead, Barcelona rely on individual brilliance.
  • He doesn’t become part of an intricate passing system—instead, he learns to play in a counter-attacking setup.

🚨 Verdict: Messi is still special, but not as refined tactically.

📌 2008-2012: The Messi vs. Ronaldo Era – But Without Guardiola

In real history, Messi’s rise to GOAT-level status happened under Pep Guardiola. Guardiola put Messi at the center of the team, moved him to a false nine, and created a system that maximized his genius.

🚨 But in this timeline, Guardiola never coaches Barcelona.

📌 Instead, Barcelona are managed by José Mourinho in 2008!

🔴 Mourinho’s Tactical Approach:

  • Messi plays as an inside forward, more like Cristiano Ronaldo.
  • No tiki-taka—more defensive, counter-attacking football.
  • More reliance on physicality, less positional structure.

📌 2009 Champions League Final: Barcelona vs. Manchester United

  • In real history, Barcelona dominated United 2-0 with tiki-taka.
  • In this timeline, Mourinho’s defensive Barcelona struggle against Ferguson’s United.
  • Messi scores, but Ronaldo’s United win 2-1.

🚨 Verdict: Messi is still a superstar, but he is no longer part of the greatest club team in history.

📌 2010-2013: Messi vs. Ronaldo, But on Equal Terms

In real life, Messi won 4 consecutive Ballon d’Ors (2009-2012) and became part of arguably the best team ever under Guardiola.

🚨 But in this timeline, it’s much closer between him and Ronaldo.

📌 Ballon d’Or Winners in This Timeline:

  • 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, same as real life).
  • 2009: Messi (Still elite, but not as dominant).
  • 2010: Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan win the treble under Mourinho).
  • 2011: Ronaldo (Real Madrid win La Liga).
  • 2012: Messi (Wins his second Ballon d’Or, but much closer battle).

📌 Tactical Differences in Messi’s Career:
✅ Still a goal-scoring machine.
❌ Less involved in build-up play.
❌ Not the key orchestrator of the team like he was under Guardiola.
❌ No 91-goal season like in 2012.

🚨 Verdict: Messi is still great, but he is NOT the undisputed best player in the world.

📌 2014-2016: Messi’s Final Years at Barcelona – But Does He Stay?

📌 By 2014, Barcelona are struggling.

  • Mourinho left in 2012 after clashing with the board.
  • Messi is frustrated—he is no longer winning league titles regularly.
  • Real Madrid, led by Ronaldo, Bale, and Modric, are dominating La Liga.

📌 2014 World Cup: Messi Still Reaches the Final, But With More Doubt

  • In real history, Argentina built their team around Messi in a structured system.
  • In this timeline, Messi is used more freely but lacks a clear tactical support system.
  • He still reaches the final, but he struggles more without a well-drilled midfield behind him.

🚀 Final Score: Germany 1-0 Argentina (Same result as real life).
🚨 But Messi is criticized more, seen as a player who “doesn’t control games.”

📌 2015-2016: Messi’s Future in Doubt

📌 Key Questions:

  • With Barcelona struggling, does Messi leave?
  • Does he go to the Premier League (Manchester City or Chelsea)?
  • Or does he stay, hoping to rebuild Barcelona?

🚨 Messi’s Career in This Timeline (Before 2016):

✅ 2 Ballon d’Ors (2009, 2012) instead of 5.
✅ Still an all-time great, but never as dominant as in real history.
✅ Less influence on matches outside of goal-scoring.
❌ No 91-goal year in 2012.
❌ Fewer Champions League titles.
❌ More frustration at Barcelona due to lack of a clear philosophy.

📌 Final Decision – Does Messi Leave Barcelona?

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