Messi "best player of all time"

[davek]

Eh, none of them have ever turned up for him. He's been dragging through tournaments for years. Aguero scored his first World Cup goal against Iceland despite playing eight before that.

Only have to look to 2014 too. Ragged them through every game, got to the Final and when he got some 'support,' they missed a good handful of sitters.

Maradona pretty much took the Buenos Aires Dog & Duck team to become World Cup winners. Messi had class players who he failed to inspire. No wonder the Argentinians call him the Catalan.

 

[Number_25]

Hard to play when you're chin is on your chest.

Didn't want to be there.

 

[bicycleheader]

Lol.

His style of football is your choice not mine. Ronaldo is a much more thrilling (and productive and successful) player.

...thank goodness you didn't challenge the Maradona v Messi unreal comparison, now that would have been embarrassing.

well Dave.

I might enter into a discussion with you, if you wrote in a manner that suggested you might actually discuss a topic rather than browbeat me for a number of posts before popping off into the RS thread

 

[davek]

well Dave.

I might enter into a discussion with you, if you wrote in a manner that suggested you might actually discuss a topic rather than browbeat me for a number of posts before popping off into the RS thread

It's about backing up perception with facts on these issues: compare and contrast both Maradona and Ronaldo to Messi and Messi doesn't shape up. Simple matter of looking at their career achievements.

 

[Zezti]

Few years ago they were equal, not anymore. Ronaldo has changed his game to lift his teams through any poor performance whereas Messi is just anonymous when his side falters.

 

[davek]

I'd place Messi in this hierarchy:

Maradona

Pelle

Cruyff/Zidane/Di Stefano

Ronaldo/Best/Messi/Puskas/Platini

Gullit/Stoichkov/Hagi


...that sort of area.

 

[bicycleheader]

It's about backing up perception with facts on these issues: compare and contrast both Maradona and Ronaldo to Messi and Messi doesn't shape up. Simple matter of looking at their career achievements.

Well as a football fan I much prefer watching them play the actual game and judge them on what they do with a football.

I rate Maradona and Messi a couple of levels higher than Ronaldo, as running a game of football and picking out passes of the highest level whilst slaloming through opposition players AND scoring goals on top of that is better for me than a player who very regularly fails to do much in games but then bangs a couple of goals in. Ronaldo is one of the best in the game but is not a creator. He is a finisher, and has a drive that very few players have.

All 3 are/were successful. I am not sure why you would pick career achievements to try put one on top of the other as they both are right up the top in regards to honours won.

Messi is light years ahead when it comes to consistent greatness though. I've rarely seen him have a bad game and for the majority of his career played each week almost never dropping below a 7/10 in my opinion. I've not seen the likes of it before.

 

[bicycleheader]

Few years ago they were equal, not anymore. Ronaldo has changed his game to lift his teams through any poor performance whereas Messi is just anonymous when his side falters.

They've never been "equals".

Both score bucketloads of goals and win lots of trophies.

One is a boss playmaker on top of that. One of the best ever.

It's as simple as that for me.

 

[davek]

Few years ago they were equal, not anymore. Ronaldo has changed his game to lift his teams through any poor performance whereas Messi is just anonymous when his side falters.

Spot on this.

 

[chrismpw]

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.

So you'll be gutted when he's photo'd next to Contract Dave.

 

[Prevenger17]

Messi is probably more talented on the ball, but talent alone doesnt win trophies.

Aye, Messi has really struggled on the trophy front

 

[davek]

Well as a football fan I much prefer watching them play the actual game and judge them on what they do with a football.
I rate Maradona and Messi a couple of levels higher than Ronaldo, as running a game of football and picking out passes of the highest level whilst slaloming through opposition players AND scoring goals on top of that is better for me than a player who very regularly fails to do much in games but then bangs a couple of goals in. Ronaldo is one of the best in the game but is not a creator. He is a finisher, and has a drive that very few players have.
All 3 are/were successful. I am not sure why you would pick career achievements to try put one on top of the other as they both are right up the top in regards to honours won.

Messi is light years ahead when it comes to consistent greatness though. I've rarely seen him have a bad game and for the majority of his career played each week almost never dropping below a 7/10 in my opinion. I've not seen the likes of it before.

Because it gets past the issue of stylistic preferences. It's not ideal but it's measurable.

 

[davek]

So you'll be gutted when he's photoed next to Contract Dave.

Contract Dave signs messes not Messi's.

 

[nsno-chris]

Maradona dragged Napoli and Argentina to titles

Ronaldo carried Portugal to the Euro win and is doing the same now

Messi is a truly wonderful player, absolute genius on the ball and is great to watch but he’s struggled woefully on the international stage which tends to be the marker

 

[bicycleheader]

Because it gets past the issue of stylistic preferences. It's not ideal but it's measurable.

No, I mean why would you pick something that they are both great at? They are probably close to the two most trophy laden players of all time.

And it's not stylistic preferences Dave. It's football. Basic football. What they do with the ball at their feet. One can dribble with it, can play a range of superb passes from all over the pitch despite having two or three players pressuring him. Can score a shedload of goals with top level finishing.

The other guy simply cannot do all of that.