Raheem Sterling has enjoyed a stellar 2019 so far, but what does he need to do to take his game to the level of the world's best?
The difference between the amount of assists each player had provided at that stage of their career is not vast - 90 for Messi compared to 68 for Sterling - but it is Messi's goalscoring prowess that sets him apart.For Sterling to exist in such elevated company, his numbers will need to improve significantly."Raheem Sterling is getting better," former Arsenal striker Ian Wright told BBC Radio 5 Live.
That price tag came with a lot of pressure for a 20-year-old and so perhaps it was not surprising that Sterling was unable to make the immediate impact he would have wanted.In the summer of 2016 when Sterling was enduring a difficult European Championships, in which he got substituted at half-time for England against Wales following a poor 45 minutes, a text message popped up on his phone.
Like Sterling, Messi's goal-scoring record before playing under Guardiola was solid but not spectacular - he scored 16 times in the 2007-08 season. "He would now be disappointed by scoring three goals and missing one because that is what he is about now, it's all about getting the numbers up."While Guardiola's coaching has undoubtedly helped improve Sterling, just as crucial to his improvement is the player's mental strength.
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