Messi is the world's best player. When it comes to taking penalties, however, he is no better than average!

It is a curious paradox. Capable of dribbling past numerous rivals, scoring sensational goals and producing fantasy football with effortless ease, Lionel Messi is the world's best player. When it comes to taking penalties, however, he is no better than average. Messi set up Marc Bartra for Barcelona's opener against Levante on Sunday, scored
from the spot to make it 3-0 later on and netted a superb strike in the final minute as he beat several defenders before slotting home with a fine finish. But he also missed a penalty, blasting over the bar with 14 minutes left. How he can score goals like the his stunning second, but fail so regularly from the spot remains a mystery - and he has now missed two of his three penalties in 2015-16. In total, he has been unable to convert 17 of his 81 spot-kicks throughout his career (a 79 per cent success rate). For a lot of players, such stats would be satisfactory. But this is a man who is the finest footballer in the world and perhaps the greatest to ever grace the game. From Messi, the very best is expected and almost always it is delivered. Just not from the penalty spot. The Argentina international also missed from the spot in the 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on the opening weekend of the season, so neither of his erred attempts have cost Barca. However, his poor record from the spot could be a concern against more difficult rivals than Levante. As long as he is assisting, scoring wonder goals and helping the Blaugrana to win trebles and titles galore, Luis Enrique won't be too worried - and the Barca boss played down Messi's miss after the game at Camp Nou. "Missing penalties doesn't make him more human," he said. "He scored two goals and gave an assist. There is little human about Messi." Three days after their 1-1 draw at Roma in the Champions League and with a midweek fixture ahead in La Liga, Luis Enrique rotated on Sunday, bringing in young forwards Munir El Haddadi and Sandro in a surprise 4-2-3-1 system. It took time to function and after a goalless first 45 minutes (Barca have not scored in the opening half in any of their Liga fixtures so far this term), Messi picked out Bartra at the far post and the defender produced a calm finish to give the Catalans the lead. Neymar added another from an almost identical position, before Messi's penalty made it 3-0. The 28-year-old sent a fierce shot high into the roof of the net in what looked a confident finish. For his second spot-kick, though, he attempted something similar and this time sent the ball over the crossbar. Head in hands, he had missed again from the spot and the frustration was all too apparent. Instead of letting it get to him, however, he ended the night with a trademark solo strike to round off a 4-1 win - Barca's most convincing victory of the campaign following 1-0 successes against Athletic and Malaga and a 2-1 triumph away to Atletico Madrid. The champions are the only team to have claimed maximum points in the Primera Division with 12 from their four fixtures so far - and Messi has been the main inspiration behind his side's successful start to the season. How he can do everything he does but still miss from the spot, however, is still surprising. It is not about practice or technique, but mental strength and confidence. So he may be the best there is, but his penalties are average and he will be under scrutiny the next time he steps up to take one. Room for improvement, Leo