Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who famously oversaw the development of Lionel Messi into a global superstar, has explained the forward’s game. 

According to Guardiola, Messi goes through much of the game at a walking pace as this allows him to study the movements and positioning of the opposition players.

Guardiola explained Messi possesses what he as called ‘X-ray’ vision, an ability to see the game clearer than any other player.

‘Messi goes through the game walking, X-raying each moment,’ Guardiola told Spanish journalist Marti Perarnau for his upcoming book Pep Guardiola: The Evolution, reports Marca.

‘He senses when he’s alone, and when he notices that the opposition is watching him, he’ll find some space and distance himself. Messi is the player who runs the least in the Spanish league.’

According to the Catalan coach, Messi’s ability helps him make his contributions to matches decisive.

‘Then by the time the ball arrives at his feet, he has completed his X-ray of time and space, knows where everybody is, and then… bang!’ he concluded.

The 29-year-old Messi played 219 games under Guardiola’s tutelage at Barcelona before the Catalan opted for a fresh challenge. Messi scored 211 goals and assisted a further 96 during that period.