Messi "best player of all time"

[Bruce Wayne]

Soz, but out of the two it's always been Ronaldo. Messi's biggest drawback is that he's only ever 'proved himself' in Spain with one of the best clubs in world football. He's also never really showed up for Argentina in a major tournament.

Apart from dragging them to two Copa America finals and a World Cup final. But apart from that, he's done nothing at international level.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Koenman ruined the 2nd best player of all time

He'd fit nicely into our team of hit-n-hopers. Tubby Ashley and Shoelace Phil would have a field day sending long balls up to him.

 

[Steve0]

How anyone could seriously suggest he was the equal of Maradona I have no idea.

Imagine Maradona against that Croatian team. He'd have been slaloming in and out of them all night and covering every blade of grass on the pitch to get the result.

Messi has top class around him for all his international career and does absolutely f.a. to turn it into a WC win.

And it's an absolute nonsense to even suggest he's Ronaldo's equal. Ronaldo inspired a Euros win from a lot less talent in that Portuguese squad two years ago.

Great player Messi, no question. However, he is WELL down the pecking order in terms of all time best.

Sorry, Messi is better than Ronaldo.

 

[davek]

would put pele above maradona all day long, did it over a longer period and just a better player in my eyes.
Best at his peak and Cruyff above Zidane
Ronaldo or messi ?
Ronaldo for me, steps up to be counted when it counts

Probably I'd be best sticking to players actually seen. In that case:

Maradona (way, way out ahead of the rest)

Cruyff

Zidane
Ronaldo
Messi/Platini

Gullit

 

[Steve0]

would put pele above maradona all day long, did it over a longer period and just a better player in my eyes.
Best at his peak and Cruyff above Zidane
Ronaldo or messi ?
Ronaldo for me, steps up to be counted when it counts

Did you watch the CL final? He was awful.

As he was for United in 2008. In fact he's never had a good CL final.

Blimey, you score an unmarked header against the mighty Morocco and all of a sudden you're definitely better than Messi? Lolz.

 

[davek]

Sorry, Messi is better than Ronaldo.

Stats say "no".

The rest is personal preference in terms of style. For me, watching CR play is edge of the seat stuff at his best; Messi at his best is like watching someone undo a knotted piece of rope you think can never be straightened out....fascinating and yet tedious at the same time.

 

[davek]

It's also interesting tbh that given how Dave responds in the cycling thread, how he masturbates over a player who cheated with drugs throughout his career.

And with that remark I take it that you've finally given up the ghost in claiming that Messi is Maradona's "equal"/"superior"?

 

[davek]

Did you watch the CL final? He was awful.

As he was for United in 2008. In fact he's never had a good CL final.

Blimey, you score an unmarked header against the mighty Morocco and all of a sudden you're definitely better than Messi? Lolz.

He was poor. However, he got them to Kiev. No question about that.

 

[Steve0]

Stats say "no".

The rest is personal preference in terms of style. For me, watching CR play is edge of the seat stuff at his best; Messi at his best is like watching someone undo a knotted piece of rope you think can never be starightened out....fascinating and yet tedious at the same time.

Come on, David.

Of the two Ronaldo is more tedious, he's like an effective battering ram - runs at you, stepover, leathers it.

Messi possesses an other worldly grace than Ronaldo can only dream of, the slaloming runs, the adhesive touch, the dinks, the curl into the corner (top left or bottom right) he has much more in his locker. Ronaldo has made more of his attributes but in terms of talent Messi is on another planet.

In my opinion of course.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Apart from dragging them to two Copa America finals and a World Cup final. But apart from that, he's done nothing at international level.

That WC final was his chance to prove to the world once and for all that he had what it takes to lead his country to glory and finally propel himself to Maradonna's status, subsequently establishing himself as one of the very best ever. He failed.

Ronaldo's Euro 2016 win with Portugal was more impressive, as are his many domestic honours across different leagues when viewed collectively.

 

[Steve0]

Ronaldo over the last few seasons despite being older has annihilated him.

Huh?

 

[davek]

Come on, David.

Of the two Ronaldo is more tedious, he's like an effective battering ram - runs at you, stepover, leathers it.

Messi possesses an other worldly grace than Ronaldo can only dream of, the slaloming runs, the adhesive touch, the dinks, the curl into the corner (top left or bottom right) he has much more in his locker. Ronaldo has made more of his attributes but in terms of talent Messi is on another planet.

In my opinion of course.

Graceful would never be the word that springs to my mind in describing Messi. He cant do much about his stature, I accept that. It gives him his great sense of balance. But it also limits his game to a certain style of play.

I did create the thread to discuss the "comparison" (as if ever one could be made!) between Messi and Maradona, but it seems to have taken the Ronaldo v Messi route!

 

[davek]

That WC final was his chance to prove to the world once and for all that he had what it takes to lead his country to glory and finally propel himself to Maradonna's status, subsequently establishing himself as one of the very best ever. He failed.

Ronaldo's Euro 2016 win with Portugal was more impressive, as are his many domestic honours across different leagues when viewed collectively.

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.

 

[Walken]

Apart from dragging them to two Copa America finals and a World Cup final. But apart from that, he's done nothing at international level.

turned up in the group stages of 2014, complete myth that he was doing anything special on his own in the knockout stages, they ALWAYS had good sides

 

[Bruce Wayne]

And with that remark I take it that you've finally given up the ghost in claiming that Messi is Maradona's "equal"/"superior"?

Not at all. I think he's far superior. His record at club level is on another level to Maradona. His goals record at international level is better (he's scored x2 as many goals as Maradona at both club and international level and is not finished yet). At club level, Maradona won 2 leagues, 2 cups and a UEFA Cup. Messi has won 9 leagues, 6 cups and 4 Champions Leagues. It's not even comparable.

His Copa America record with Argentina is much better, and it's interesting that Argentina did nothing in that competition with Maradona in their team, yet when he gets banned for drugs, they win two in a row. He doesn't cheat like Maradona did.

Literally the only thing Maradona has done that Messi hasn't is win the World Cup, and because he scored a great goal against England at a time when many of us here were in our adolescence, we over-inflate what he actually achieved in the game.