Messi "best player of all time"

[Walken]

Certainly not the best player of all time....that would be Diego IMO.

But he is certainly a brilliant player and last night we saw a glimpse of what he can do.

Go on, Lionel......make this your World Cup from here on in

A glimpse when his team is on top because of banega, after his country needing him for three games, he showed up for about 20 mins, wow

 

[StateSideToffee]

Just as a fan that has never played or coached at a level higher than the college level; in the 40-50 matches I’ve watched of Messi for Barcelona, I simply don’t see Messi impact the game greater than the likes of others in his squad such as Iniesta, Rakitic, and Busquets. I would argue that those three have a greater impacts in the matches that I have watched.

Meanwhile, every match I have ever seen Ronaldo play; approximately 65-75 matches, Ronaldo is always the greatest and most impactful player on the pitch.

Take this for what it is worth because clearly I don’t see all of their matches; but, from my perspective Ronaldo is drastically the greater player and it really isn’t close.

 

[Walken]

Just as a fan that has never played or coached at a level higher than the college level; in the 40-50 matches I’ve watched of Messi for Barcelona, I simply don’t see Messi impact the game greater than the likes of others in his squad such as Iniesta, Rakitic, and Busquets. I would argue that those three have a greater impacts in the matches that I have watched.

Meanwhile, every match I have ever seen Ronaldo play; approximately 65-75 matches, Ronaldo is always the greatest and most impactful player on the pitch.

Take this for what it is worth because clearly I don’t see all of their matches; but, from my perspective Ronaldo is drastically the greater player and it really isn’t close.

That's certainly the cerebral approach to the matter, I'm afraid fanboys be fanboys though

 

[Papa Shango]

Being serious there's nothing Ronaldo can do that Messi can't.

Well I cant see Messi leaping to bury a header over a big grock defender like Ronaldo can due to him being 5 foot 7 and Ronaldo being 6 foot 1 and having a tremendous leap on him.

So yeah of course there are things he can't do!

They are totally different players. The only thing they really have in common is the fact that they are both ridiculous but in different ways.

 

[Papa Shango]

That could be redundant in three weeks.

It wont be.

Well it might be, but I cant see them winning it, too many flaws in that team.

 

[Khalekan]

A glimpse when his team is on top because of banega, after his country needing him for three games, he showed up for about 20 mins, wow

Well, better late than never, as Confucius probably never said.

That “20 minutes” saved his pretty dire side from an ignominious exit and who knows what might happen now he has found his feet.

 

[Walken]

Well, better late than never, as Confucius probably never said.

That “20 minutes” saved his pretty dire side from an ignominious exit and who knows what might happen now he has found his feet.

if he's found his feet, would have disappeared in that game? I'd rather have seen him finish strongly when they were really up against it, he certainly needs to start really leading this team if they are to have any chance at all

 

[Steve0]

Just as a fan that has never played or coached at a level higher than the college level; in the 40-50 matches I’ve watched of Messi for Barcelona, I simply don’t see Messi impact the game greater than the likes of others in his squad such as Iniesta, Rakitic, and Busquets. I would argue that those three have a greater impacts in the matches that I have watched.

Meanwhile, every match I have ever seen Ronaldo play; approximately 65-75 matches, Ronaldo is always the greatest and most impactful player on the pitch.

Take this for what it is worth because clearly I don’t see all of their matches; but, from my perspective Ronaldo is drastically the greater player and it really isn’t close.

I think that's the problem. Ronaldo's histrionics etc attract attention, Messi's contribution can be more subtle so it takes a keener eye to really notice it.

That said, it's obvious Messi's the better player. Genuinely shocked it's even much of a debate.

 

[BigDunc'sFod]

Messi wasn't even the best player in the Argentina side last World Cup. It was a public joke that he got the Golden Ball. It's the same with the Player of the Year, it's easy for people to vote for Messi or Ronaldo without giving it much thought. Iniesta was far more influential than Messi for Barcelona over a long period of time, but he didn't have the back story that Messi had. Similarly 2 years ago Neymar was better than Messi for Barca, whenever they were struggling and needed someone to step up, it was Neymar. Not least in the PSG game. IMO that's why he left.

Neither Ronaldo or Messi are the players they were a few years ago, you could argue Messi has fallen further as he doesn't look anywhere near the same player. Ronaldo has re-invented himself a bit to combat it. Neymar is clearly not back to fitness from his injury but IMO he's a better player than both of them.

Modric this year for me over all three of them tbh

 

[bicycleheader]

Messi wasn't even the best player in the Argentina side last World Cup. It was a public joke that he got the Golden Ball. It's the same with the Player of the Year, it's easy for people to vote for Messi or Ronaldo without giving it much thought. Iniesta was far more influential than Messi for Barcelona over a long period of time, but he didn't have the back story that Messi had. Similarly 2 years ago Neymar was better than Messi for Barca, whenever they were struggling and needed someone to step up, it was Neymar. Not least in the PSG game. IMO that's why he left.

Neither Ronaldo or Messi are the players they were a few years ago, you could argue Messi has fallen further as he doesn't look anywhere near the same player. Ronaldo has re-invented himself a bit to combat it. Neymar is clearly not back to fitness from his injury but IMO he's a better player than both of them.

I'd have to agree with a couple of responses above in that this is completely wrong apart from Messi not being the best player at the last World Cup.

Neymar had a couple of spells where he did really well but there is no way he got close to being better or more influential than Messi. PSG is a big example but again begins the revision of history because of one strong example.

"he didn't have the back story Messi had"....what does this even mean? It's bizarre the things brought into this argument when it can all be seen clearly in how they play the game.

 

[bicycleheader]

I honestly think people are on a mass wind up or simply don't watch many games of these two and are going on preconceptions. I think it's a bit bizarre really. people have just chosen a side and that's it.

They are both on the decline but in the more than 800 games and 14 or more seasons they have both played my argument would be that the balance of top class 90 minute performances would be heavily in favour of Messi. He is a goalscorer AND playmaker, who is considered within the game as arguably the best of all time in both roles, being compared to a goalscorer. An amazing goalscorer, an absolute beast of a goal machine, but still just that.

Watching them both over their careers I honestly can't believe it is even up for discussion.

 

[bicycleheader]

Modric this year for me over all three of them tbh

I think he has been closer to Messi and Ronaldo than anybody over the last few seasons, whilst people have been talking about Neymar. He is an outstanding player and for influence over 90 minutes for Madrid in game after game I think he is more important than Ronaldo.

 

[FC sexy xxx]

I like the Copa America and it has some great players and teams in it, but it cant measure up to the Euro Championships these days. It's like the difference between winning the Championship and winning the PL.

Is that the same euro’s that faking Wales got to the semi finals ? lol

 

[FC sexy xxx]

Yes Uruguay that last won the world cup nearly 70 years ago and haven't done much since. Can't say getting to the 2010 semi final as it was blatant cheating that got them there!!



Not saying you can't get an easy draw and have a bit of luck as Portugal did, just saying the quality of the teams that compete in the Euros are better than what are in the Copa America.

When the likes of Mexico, Paraguay, Columbia and Peru start beating the top European sides on a regular basis then we can reassess the issue.

Pretty sure Uruguay won the Copa América recently.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I honestly think people are on a mass wind up or simply don't watch many games of these two and are going on preconceptions. I think it's a bit bizarre really. people have just chosen a side and that's it.

They are both on the decline but in the more than 800 games and 14 or more seasons they have both played my argument would be that the balance of top class 90 minute performances would be heavily in favour of Messi. He is a goalscorer AND playmaker, who is considered within the game as arguably the best of all time in both roles, being compared to a goalscorer. An amazing goalscorer, an absolute beast of a goal machine, but still just that.

Watching them both over their careers I honestly can't believe it is even up for discussion.

Hasn't Messi had something like 250 assists in his career?

 

[bicycleheader]

Hasn't Messi had something like 250 assists in his career?

I think the assist stat is a bit too vague to be reliable really, but I do know that only one of the two players drops pinpoint passes in behind opposition defences on a regular basis and often having just dribbled past a couple of players.