Why Lionel Messi Would Make a Great Forex Trader

It's difficult to become a successful Forex Trader. This is mainly due to the intrinsic difficulties of this activity, which requires frequenting a highly competitive environment that is, by definition, full of uncertainty. However, it's also due to some common misconceptions that prevent traders, at least initially, from developing an effective awareness of their role and a mindset capable of creating the best conditions for achieving success. To overcome this problem, it's possible, both seriously and jokingly, to suggest a metaphor: consider a successful winner, examine their strengths, and translate them into the Forex dimension. An excellent point of reference for those who want to carry out such an operation can be Lionel Messi. The Barcelona champion would make a great Forex Trader. And this is speculation only to a certain extent. In fact, he possesses the right mentality to succeed in the foreign exchange market. He has the most suitable "moral" characteristics to profit in Forex. Here's what these characteristics are.

He's disciplined

It doesn't take great intuition to know that a great footballer, to be considered as such, must be very disciplined. Certainly, Lionel Messi didn't conquer the pinnacle of world football due to some sort of predestination or simply because he was kissed by luck. He achieved success thanks to discipline, willpower, and the ability to remain focused on his goal. Similarly, his performances aren't solely the result of his skill with the ball but also his ability to adapt to tactics, interpreting them in a way that simultaneously enhances his talent and the performance of the entire team system. Well, a trader must do exactly the same. They must develop a sense of iron discipline to reach the goals they set at the beginning of their career, to grow and improve day after day. Obviously, they must be disciplined in the key way, that is, in the operational phase. Disciplined to what? To themselves and no one else. Or, to put it better, to the decisions they made previously, to the procedures they selected in the strategy phase. In simple terms, they must stick to their trading plan. It's not easy to maintain discipline, in trading as in life. Yet, it's an essential element. The difference between a brilliant career and a ruinous experience lies (almost) entirely here.

He's never satisfied

Lionel Messi, despite the results achieved, which include several Champions League titles, numerous national titles, and a handful of Ballon d'Ors, isn't satisfied. He's still hungry, still eager to excel. He doesn't rest on his laurels but strives to improve day after day. After thirteen years of a career at the highest levels (an eternity for a football player), he could slightly loosen his grip, even at the cost of less exciting but still adequate performances. And yet, he perseveres in the goal of improving himself. This is the right attitude not only for a footballer, or an athlete in general, but also for a Forex trader. Many rest on their laurels, which translates into persevering with the same old techniques, the same trading system. Now, certainly a trading plan, especially if profitable, isn't abandoned overnight. However, it's always necessary to look for something better. The best traders don't get stuck with one method but react to the market and prepare for plan B. They develop new strategies and, if necessary, test them with demos or backtests. This approach is useful as it provides an ace up the sleeve in case one's trading system loses its edge, and as it paves the way for new profit opportunities.

He changes pace

Lionel Messi is famous for his change of pace. He almost always manages to evade his opponent because he modifies, practically instantaneously, his speed. He does this not for aesthetic whim, but because it's functional to his goal: to score and assist. When a burst of speed is needed, he increases his pace and becomes unstoppable. When he needs to stop with the ball at his feet, he does so, attracts opponents, identifies a gap, and restarts. This concept of changing pace may seem to make sense only in a football context, but it can also be understood as an excellent metaphor for what a trader should do (to achieve success). The concept of changing pace translates, in Forex Trading, to choosing to move, at various speeds, only when the conditions are right. Just as Messi doesn't run wildly always and in any case, a good trader doesn't throw themselves into the fray in all market conditions. A good trader invests only when they see an opportunity; otherwise, they stop. This is one of the concepts that is most difficult to convey to beginners: quantity is not synonymous with quality. Paradoxically, a more sporadic type of trading can be much more profitable than an approach that aims at investing without (or with few) breaks. Also because, as everyone learns at their own expense, trading is very tiring, both emotionally and purely intellectually.

He varies his playing style

Messi's ability to react to the external environment, to stimuli and needs based on a goal, doesn't only translate into the ease with which he modulates speed. Often, he changes his entire approach to the game of football, the way he moves on the pitch, the areas of the field he covers. In simple terms, he changes his style. And in all cases, he delivers excellent performances, whether employed as a right winger, second striker (or even as an attacking midfielder). In short, he's versatile. Versatility is a quality that all traders must possess. They mustn't get stuck with the same approach. For example, a trader who wants to invest in the euro-dollar should be able to change currency pairs if the previous one, at that particular historical moment, doesn't offer the hoped-for opportunities. Similarly, they must be ready to change techniques, indicators, and even their trading plan. Obviously, they mustn't do it on a whim or for the simple desire to change. They must do it only if useful, if not even necessary. Only if, by changing, they manage to bridge the gap between themselves and their goal.

He withstands pressure

Common sense portrays the footballer's profession as an idyllic one, which practically has no side effects. After all, these are guys who are paid handsomely to play football. Obviously, it's a profession for the privileged, for the chosen few, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There's an element to come to terms with, a very difficult customer to manage: pressure. Imagine being a Lionel Messi and having millions of eyes on you, who certainly expect nothing less than a great performance. You can't make mistakes, you can't give up, you can't take a step back. In short, footballers, especially those like Lionel Messi, have to endure enormous pressure. And the Barcelona champion does it, excellently. He's endowed with great composure. Traders should also possess these important moral qualities: resistance to pressure, composure. The pressure doesn't come so much from the expectations of others, but from the awareness that, by making mistakes, money will be lost. Now, being aware of the risks is a good thing, but being paralyzed by them is a huge evil. Resisting pressure badly, or not resisting it at all, means becoming prey to emotions and reducing one's decision-making abilities. There's a lot of mental work to be done, but some measures can free the trader from pressure: adopting automated trading for example, or specifically circumscribing one's trading system, so that it can be used in any case, even the most unexpected.