Messi "best player of all time"

[cpfc1905]

Since when did a couple of games decide this kind of thing?

Messi's still the boy. Fair play to Ronaldo for making it an argument though. He's never reached the levels Messi has in terms of ability though

 

[The binman chronicles]

Messi is outstanding

But he isn't Pele

There'll never be another

You have Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Pele, Wayne Gretsky and Brian Lara on sporting Mount Rushmore. I know that's five people but I'm not arsed

There is a ringer on your mount! Tendulkar, Sobers, Richards to name a few that are probably better than Lara before we even wheel out Bradman.

 

[Mozza1987]

Messi has played in one league and for one of the best clubs in world all his career. He has been awful for Argentina winning absolutely nothing when over the time he has played they have had a decent team. Then you look at Ronaldo who has done it in multiple leagues and teams and carries that Portugal team by himself. Just look at this World Cup. Ronaldo is better than Messi for me. Both fabulous players obviously but Ronaldo gets it. However not sure they are better than the likes of Pele etc.

 

[roydo]

Messi has played in one league and for one of the best clubs in world all his career. He has been awful for Argentina winning absolutely nothing when over the time he has played they have had a decent team. Then you look at Ronaldo who has done it in multiple leagues and teams and carries that Portugal team by himself. Just look at this World Cup. Ronaldo is better than Messi for me. Both fabulous players obviously but Ronaldo gets it. However not sure they are better than the likes of Pele etc.

To be honest, Jordan Henderson has been better than Messi in this WC.

But I am biased. Prefer watching Ronaldo anyrate.

 

[degsy]

When you get up into those rarified levels its all a bit unquantifiable...times change, the game has evolved, its different now, the pitches, the footballs, the boots, overall health, fitness, diet...the list goes on.
How do you gauge Dean's career 80 yrs on...and if you do, who do you compare him with.
The World Cup didnt get going an a meaningful way until 1950

fwiw, Id have Ronaldo, just shading it over Messi for the decade, but if somebody called it the other way round, I wouldn't argue too much
I go back more than a few years and the player that had it all for me was Best, he could've even played full back, because he was as tough as nails and could tackle. But a lack of International achievements, some questionable career decisions and personal habits cloud his legacy.
Best of all time?? You could put up 10 contenders going back 100 yrs, make plausible cases for all and leave out another dozen viable contenders.

 

[Nymzee]

He's still better than Ronaldo.

 

[davek]

So, not as good as Ronaldo and not in the same class as the real best player of all time - Diego Armando Maradona.

 

[f.t.r.s]

Since when did a couple of games decide this kind of thing?

Messi's still the boy. Fair play to Ronaldo for making it an argument though. He's never reached the levels Messi has in terms of ability though

Ronaldo for me is by far the better player. You can have all the talent in the world but if you don't turn up when it matters it doesn't mean a thing.
Ronaldo dragged Portugal through to win the euros. Ronaldo consistently steps up no matter who he plays for, Messi only steps up in the barca side that's been built around him.
Another example, Ross Barkley is miles ahead of James milner talent wise, yet whose going to finish with more honours?

 

[bicycleheader]

I dunno why people can't see it as for me it's clear as day.

Messi plays the game way way better than Cronaldo. What he does with a ball is on a different level to Cronaldo.

All other factors being brought in to play by people trying to say otherwise are not enough to make up for that. Playing in different leagues. Comfort zone. Heading ability(lol). If they were much more closely matched in actual ability with the ball I think you could get down to weighing in those factors, but with the gulf in talent on the ball I don't think they are anywhere enough to close the gap.

There is also some silly repeating of myths in this thread. Messi has not been awful for Argentina in his career. By most players standards he has had at least a very good career.

Cronaldo has also had a very good international career but does not carry them on his shoulders. He has had numerous poor performances and many games where he fails to be effective. He was decent in the Euros but not exceptional, so it's just revisionism to say he carried them to that final.

I'll end by repeating myself again in here. Both are outstanding goalscorers and break all records, but only one is also close to being the greatest playmaker and dribbler on top of that. It's that simple.

 

[Connor]

The World Cup hot takes are great but still, basing it on one tournament? Yeah:

 

[Nymzee]

Messi is better at football, Ronaldo is the better athlete.

Does it all whilst not needing an enormous ego.

 

[Skamp]

Oh come on. It's stronger than the CA because there are teams like Germany, Itay, France, Spain, usually The Netherlands, erm England. Not even mentioning Portugal, Croatia, Sweden etc. who have all been decent at one stage or another.

Now let's look at the Copa America. Brazil, massive drop then, Argentina...maybe throw in Uruguay and Columbia.

So no inclusion of Chile, who've won the Copa America the past 2 years or Mexico, arguably the best performing South american side of this world cup so far?

 

[Papa Shango]

So no inclusion of Chile, who've won the Copa America the past 2 years or Mexico, arguably the best performing South american side of this world cup so far?

Also Argentina have not won the Copa America for years. 25 years is it now?

 

[Papa Shango]

Messi is better at football, Ronaldo is the better athlete.

Does it all whilst not needing an enormous ego.

I would say Messi's ego is bigger then Ronaldo's. He just shows it in a different way. Ronaldo is a proper team player who gives his all every single match and hates losing. Messi gets a strop on when things are not going his way, it's just very rare as to when that happens.

 

[tsubaki]

There is a ringer on your mount! Tendulkar, Sobers, Richards to name a few that are probably better than Lara before we even wheel out Bradman.

Well exactly. Lara only gets mentioned in that sort of company because more people saw him at his best.