During over 900 games for club and country, you can probably count on one hand how many times Lionel Messi has been overshadowed on the football pitch.
But as Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw by Club Brugge in the Champions League group stages a fortnight ago, it wasn’t just Messi’s lack of a discernible impact which sent the Twitterati into a tailspin.
After 90, hard-fought minutes at the Jan Breydal Stadium, Lang would have been forgiven for wondering if he was in the midst of a fanciful fever dream. Not only had he shared a pitch with football’s answer to the Harlem Globetrotters, he had outplayed them too.
“Noa is Noa, he has always had this type of playing style,” said his agent, Bart Baving, in conversation with Calciomercato.
“He always works hard and has excellent technique, dribbling and vision. He is an excellent decision maker and a neat finisher. He is also a generous player, anything but selfish. I’ve heard a lot of people say he looks like Neymar, especially after the PSG match.”
Like PSG’s number ten, Lang has faced plenty of questions over his attitude, even if his ability is not in question. A falling out with Erik ten Hag encouraged Ajax to sell the Dutch U21 international for just £5 million 11 months ago.
According to The Athletic, Marcelo Bielsa abandoned Leeds United’s long-running pursuit of the now-£25 million-rated schemer in favour of the more down-to-earth Danny James instead.
But it seems that Arsenal are willing to take a punt on a player who continues to divide fans and pundits alike, despite inspiring Club Brugge to Jupiler League glory with 17 goals and 11 assists during his debut season in Belgian football.
According to Voetbal 24, Lang is open to joining Mikel Arteta’s Gunners in 2022.
Be warned; with Lang, the rough must be taken with the smooth, the odd moment of match-winning brilliance undermined by off-pitch controversies.
But if Arteta can focus Lang’s mind, the sky is the limit for a player who made the great Messi look every single one of his 34 years.
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