Beyond the Flag
Fansided

Indy 500: 10 non-racing driver athletes who should race in the Indianapolis 500

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 28: Drivers pull away from the grid ahead of the start of the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 28: Drivers pull away from the grid ahead of the start of the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 12
Next
VALENCIA, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 08: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
VALENCIA, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 08: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images) /

Lionel Messi

FC Barcelona. LIONEL MESSI. 30. . No. 10, Right Wing

Lionel Messi, 30, is a forward for Spanish club Barcelona in La Liga and the Argentina national team in international competition. He has played on the former since the 2004-2005 season, and he has played on the latter since the 2005 season.

So far this season in La Liga, Messi has played in 35 league games and scored 34 goals. He has also played in six games in Copa del Rey, scoring four goals, 10 games in the Champions League, scoring six goals, and two games in other competitions, scoring one goal. In total, he has totaled 53 games played and 45 goals so far this season.

In his La Liga career, Messi has played in 415 league games and scored 381 goals. He also played in 68 games in Copa del Rey, scoring 48 goals, 125 games in the Champions League, scoring 100 goals, and 26 games in other competitions, scoring 21 goals. In total, he has totaled 634 games played and 550 goals so far in his La Liga career.

Messi’s career-high statistics in La Liga are 38 league games (2014-2015), 50 league goals in the 2011-2012 season, eight Copa del Rey games in the 2008-2009 season, seven Copa del Rey goals in the 2010-2011 season, 13 Champions League games in the 2010-2011 season and the 2014-2015 season, 14 Champions League goals in the 2011-2012 season, five games in other competitions in the 2011-2012 season and six goals in other competitions in the 2011-2012 season. His career-high totals for a season are 60 games in the 2011-2012 season and 73 goals in the 2011-2012 season.

In his international career, Messi has played in 81 competitive games and scored 34 goals, and he has played in 42 friendly games and scored 27 goals, giving him a total of 123 games played and 61 goals scored. His career-high statistics in his international career are 10 competitive games in the 2007 season and the 2016 season, eight competitive goals in the 2016 season, seven friendly games in the 2014 season, seven friendly goals in the 2012 season, 14 total games in the 2007 season and the 2014 season and 12 total goals in the 2012 season.

While he is not one of the most athletic soccer players in the world, Messi is still very skilled at what he does and he is also extremely technical, which would make him ideal behind the wheel of an IndyCar. At 5’7″ and 159 pounds, he also fits the profile of a typical IndyCar driver.