The Junior Messias rise from delivery driver to Milan player has been well-documented since the Brazilian’s transfer from Crotone. After an impressive season attacking alongside Simy, the Rossoneri decided to take a flyer on the Brazilian for a €2.5 million loan. Having dealt with a lengthy leg injury, Messias has finally taken the field for Milan and has immediately displayed his talent.
At 30-years-old, the player is not a young prospect, but he could last longer than most his age. Starting in the fifth tier of Italian football, he has played in just 191 career matches (scoring 60 goals) and could easily have another three-to-four seasons left in his prime. In his brief time playing for the Rossoneri, he has already proven to be a tactical fit in Stefano Pioli’s system.
Messias’ Positional Play
Messias’ biggest strength that he has displayed so far with Milan is his tactical intelligence. The midfielder looks to exploit space and to make runs when not on the ball. He is incredibly active in the middle of the pitch, alternating between dropping deep and pushing high against the backline. He does so with pace, which helps his side move the ball faster to more dangerous areas. Providing options is an often overlooked task of the central midfielder, and one that he does well.
The sequence here may seem uneventful, but Messias’ tactical awareness is on full display. In the number 30 shirt, he initially places himself in a pocket of space, available for a long switch or a cross. As the ball comes to the right side, he immediately identifies a gap on the backline and makes a run into the attacking third. However, he then realizes that Florenzi has taken too many touches to complete the pass and drops in to provide a supporting option from behind. In a span of ten seconds, the midfielder has provided three potential options, helping Milan build the attack and retain possession.
The former delivery driver is also adept at progressing the ball in a positive direction. He is able to bring play into the final third, a crucial ability for attacking midfielders. As such, he also has recorded a high rate of shot-creating and goal-creating actions.
More Than an Attacking Midfielder
Messias can be overly theatrical, but he is gifted at drawing a high number of fouls. The Brazilian draws 2.97 fouls and commits less than one per 90 minutes. Given his typically advanced position, this talent can create dangerous free kicks for his side.
Though he is traditionally an attacking midfielder, Messias also adds a solid defensive presence. Against Fiorentina on the wing, he simultaneously led the press and dropped deep to solidify Milan’s low block. He intercepted two passes and made two quality tackles, nearly sparking a goal in the comeback effort. He also has a high work rate, which combines well with his eye for tactics.
In the above clip, Messias records a perfect tackle against Giorgos Kyriakopoulos. Despite playing as the nominal number ten, he sits deep, just yards in front of the centre-backs. He tracks the defender’s run down the wing and makes a strong challenge, striking when Kyriakopoulos leaves the ball exposed for too long. This textbook defending shows that Messias can play a variety of positions and can potentially assume a box-to-box role.
Messias does not have many weaknesses, but a significant one is his crossing. The midfielder is often inaccurate when attempting to cross the ball, which limits him as a threat when he is in possession in wide areas of the pitch.
His overall level of passing is also lacking. Over the last year, he has only completed 73.5% of his passes and attempted just 35.47 per 90 minutes. Both of these numbers are far below average for central midfielders, and they indicate that he is not a particularly effective distributor.
Should Messias Replace Alexis Saelemaekers?
While the two can certainly play together, Messias has made a case for replacing Alexis Saelemaekers. The Belgian is Milan’s weakest link in the starting eleven and is likely not the long-term answer on the right wing. Like the Brazilian, he provides a high work rate and decent technical skill, but he lacks the ability to take over a match, something present in teammates like Messias, Ante Rebic and Rafael Leao.
The biggest difference between Messias and Saelemaekers is scoring ability. Even though he is not a pure goalscorer, Messias can put the ball in the back of the net. He scored nine goals with Crotone last season as an attacking midfielder, 33% of his club’s offensive output. The Brazilian is a capable shooter and has 3 goals in 231 minutes with Milan, including a recent brace against Genoa, while Saelemaekers has just four in over 4,000 minutes at the club.
Replacing Saelemaekers with Messias would change Pioli’s tactics significantly. Messias would likely play a central role, different from the Belgian’s tendency to start wide and cut inside. He can help overload the midfield and add another speedy option to compliment Brahim Diaz. His interior positioning would also give Davide Calabria the freedom to stay wide and look to play in crosses. With an eye for the goal, Messias can stretch the pitch and play high against the backline when needed.
Even if he fails to supplant Saelemaekers in the starting eleven, Messias gives Milan tactical flexibility and added depth. Due to his versatility, his presence provides Pioli the chance to change tactics at a moment’s notice. Messias could greatly help the Rossoneri challenge for the Scudetto this season, and he has the potential to be in Milan for years to come.
Junior Messias is the first Brazilian to score 2 goals in a match for AC Milan since Ronaldinho did it on May 15, 2010 vs Juventus ??⚽⚽ pic.twitter.com/RBGqnav9Xf
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) December 2, 2021