You've convinced me he totally deserved to be second best player in the world I have never seen goals like those. 
Messi is currently leading Barcalona in goals in La Liga, the same Barcalona with Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o (a bit injury plagued), Ronaldinho, Deco, Iniesta, these very stars that "outshine" him. Last season, only Ronaldinho had more goals than him. And you are still thinking that he is having trouble breaking into the first team?
I've shared Messi's "resume" before and I don't mind doing it again. Compared to Riquelme's:
20 Year old Lionel Messi:
Golden Ball: FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
Golden Boot: FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
Golden Boy: 2005
Bravo Award: 2007
World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007
Olimpia de Plata: Argentinian Player of the Year: 2005
FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 2006
FIFPro World XI: 2007
EFE Trophy: Best Ibero-American Player in La Liga: 2007
Best foreign player in La Liga: 2007
Copa America Best Young Player: 2007
France Football Player of the Year:
3rd place: 2007
World Soccer Footballer of the Year:
2nd place: 2007
FIFA World Player of the Year:
2nd place: 2007
SI Latino's 2007 Sportsman of the Year: 2007
Now compare it to the 29 year old Riquelme's:
2007 Copa Libertadores' Most Valuable Player
2007 Copa Libertadores (Boca Juniors)
2006
Nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year
2005
Nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year
2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup (Villarreal CF)
2001 Copa Libertadores (Boca Juniors)
2001 South American Footballer of the Year
2000 Argentine Apertura Championship (Boca Juniors)
2000 Intercontinental Cup (Boca Juniors)
2000 Copa Libertadores (Boca Juniors)
1999 Argentine Clausura Championship (Boca Juniors)
1998 Argentine Apertura Championship (Boca Juniors)
1997 FIFA's World Youth Championship (under-20)
The fact is, Riquleme failed to put his stamp on a big name club. Every World Player of the year has done this. You go and look at every world player of the year, and you find that they have been able to break into squad of a top notch club in Europe. Riquleme failed in his time at Barcalona. He was then loaned to Villareal where he had been great; mind you, on
Villareal. It wasn't even him who lead the team to that semi final, it was due to the brilliant Diego Forlan when he lead La Liga in scoring to secure Villareal a Champions League spot. Yeah, we can start showing videos of brilliant goals, because Riquelme has scored some great goals, but so has Messi. And when it comes down to it, it already looks as if Messi is going to be (i think he already is) one of Barcalona's best players over the next few years. Riquelme did well at Villareal, but did not do well to support his claim of being the world's best by moving to a big club. This is key, this is essential in being the world's best; you must play with the world's best, and be able to shine.
Something i disagree with: Thierry Henry not winning the FIFA World player of the year when he lead England in goals, lead his team to the Champions League Final (Arsenals first), and helped France get to the World Cup Final. Cannavaro ended up winning, which i'm sure most people disagree with. This is also the year Henry broke Arsenal's goal scoring record and move into 3rd in Englands all time scoring list.