Messi "best player of all time"

[dholliday]

I think Messi's problem when judging him fully is not of his own making. He is a one club player, playing for a brilliant side with world class players around him every season he has been at Barcelona. That is obviously not his fault and its not like he is going to turn out for Wigan or someone to prove how great he is, and it comes with it's own pressures but for me he will always have the slight asterix next to his name purely because he has never played anywhere else.

Yep. And we see how he is when he plays for another team in Argentina. Still very good, still obviously world-class. But not Greatest Ever. His influence becomes less as he doesn't have his Barca fam around him.

Didn't know you were German, you will probably know a fair few in my underrated list then! Who is your German team? Do you have one?

We moved to England when I was 10 and I quickly found Everton during the 88/89 season. It was Everton which really game me the football bug, then shortly after that the 1990 World Cup cemented it, my allegiances were of course always for the homeland.

Returned to Germany in 2005 so followed the Bundesliga a little and enjoyed Werder Bremen who at the time were playing Arsenal-esque stuff. Was an interesting few years for the Bundesliga what with Stuttgart, Wolfsburg and then Klopp's Dortmund all winning. Been a crashing bore these last few years, tho'.

I'm not anyone-but-Bayern and I respect their success, but their incessant buying-up of all the talent has ruined the league.

 

[Papa Shango]

We moved to England when I was 10 and I quickly found Everton during the 88/89 season. It was Everton which really game me the football bug, then shortly after that the 1990 World Cup cemented it, my allegiances were of course always for the homeland.

Returned to Germany in 2005 so followed the Bundesliga a little and enjoyed Werder Bremen who at the time were playing Arsenal-esque stuff. Was an interesting few years for the Bundesliga what with Stuttgart, Wolfsburg and then Klopp's Dortmund all winning. Been a crashing bore these last few years, tho'.

I'm not anyone-but-Bayern and I respect their success, but their incessant buying-up of all the talent has ruined the league.

Ah right, that was under Thomas Schaff right? I always wanted him to come to Everton but he probably would have been moaned at here for not defending enough. I always remember a European game for Bremen were they were doing brilliantly against one of the big boys of Europe (forgot which one) and then Timo Wiesse had an absolute mare in a shocking pink goalie kit...

I have always had an interest in German football since the 80s. Never really had a team per se though I did love the mid to late 90's Dortmund team as a load of my favourite players at the time (Sammer, Kohler, Chapuisat, Moller, Reuter etc) all assembled in the same place at the same time. I actually follow the women's Bundesliga more than the mens these days as its a decent standard and very easy to follow due to the coverage of it.

Getting slightly back on topic I do find that German footballers often seem to get overlooked when talking about all time greats. Maybe its because of the perceived lack of romance from their players and the team ethic that always seems to get them through but they have had some cracking players over the years.

 

[dholliday]

Ah right, that was under Thomas Schaff right? I always wanted him to come to Everton but he probably would have been moaned at here for not defending enough. I always remember a European game for Bremen were they were doing brilliantly against one of the big boys of Europe (forgot which one) and then Timo Wiesse had an absolute mare in a shocking pink goalie kit...

I have always had an interest in German football since the 80s. Never really had a team per se though I did love the mid to late 90's Dortmund team as a load of my favourite players at the time (Sammer, Kohler, Chapuisat, Moller, Reuter etc) all assembled in the same place at the same time. I actually follow the women's Bundesliga more than the mens these days as its a decent standard and very easy to follow due to the coverage of it.

Getting slightly back on topic I do find that German footballers often seem to get overlooked when talking about all time greats. Maybe its because of the perceived lack of romance from their players and the team ethic that always seems to get them through but they have had some cracking players over the years.

oh aye, remember Lars Ricken's dreamy goal in the Champs League final vs Juventus?

yeah, there's fair interest in womens' football here. i fotograf weddings here in Berlin and the last couple i did are both footballers, she's nursing a knee injury so has been out for a bit. i once had a date back in me single days with a german footballer lass, her knowledge of strategy was impressive, deffo above my own. while obviously the quality of top-level womens' football is not on par with mens', they enjoy the game and the spectators too.

in my all-time top 10 there's 2 germans in there, and in my top 20 there'll be a couple more, Neuer among them, who for me is Germany's best keep above greats like Maier, Kahn, Illgner, Schumacher. He may have a shout as number 1 greatest goalie of all-time. he's still got a few years left so we'll have to see how he does.

 

[RomanReigns]

now that Ronaldo has jumped ship to Juve there is a good chance messi will overhaul all of ronaldo's achievements in la liga and will probably be declared the goat if he remains at barca for the rest of his career

 

[PhilM]

in my all-time top 10 there's 2 germans in there, and in my top 20 there'll be a couple more, Neuer among them, who for me is Germany's best keep above greats like Maier, Kahn, Illgner, Schumacher. He may have a shout as number 1 greatest goalie of all-time. he's still got a few years left so we'll have to see how he does.

Neuer is a fantastic keeper who makes his role look so comfortable, which is even more surprising when you consider the style he plays and all the risks it brings.

Hopefully the foot injury he received and had him out for the whole season doesn't have a long term impact, as he's looked uncomfortable since coming back.

 

[FC sexy xxx]

Interesting that Rooney was asked on a podcast who he thought was better out of Ronaldo and Messi . He said Messi without any hesitation. after playing with Ronaldo for years that clearly holds weight . He said Messi is the best ever .

 

[sageyefc]

now that Ronaldo has jumped ship to Juve there is a good chance messi will overhaul all of ronaldo's achievements in la liga and will probably be declared the goat if he remains at barca for the rest of his career

Ronaldo will be known for having the bottle to try different leagues and dominating them in the process

 

[sageyefc]

The midget had been very fortunate to play in one of the greatest sides of all time with some of the greatest players, no doubt they played a big part in how he's done. Meanwhile the true goat ronaldo you could drop into anyside in any league and he'd drag them up to his level

 

[Methuselah]

Apologies if this has already been posted but you can't be the 'best player of all time'. You can only be the 'best player of your own time'. How would Messi and Ronaldo have handled the ankle deep in mud pitches, the heavy leather footballs and tackles that would be GBH anywhere else? I remember it well, still got the scars as have many of my opponents!

 

[Papa Shango]

Interesting that Rooney was asked on a podcast who he thought was better out of Ronaldo and Messi . He said Messi without any hesitation. after playing with Ronaldo for years that clearly holds weight . He said Messi is the best ever .

He played with him for a couple of seasons before he made the step up to be as great as he is today.

Rooney also thinks it's OK to drink and drive and shag grannies so I wouldn't say his judgment is the best...

 

[BigMick]

Apologies if this has already been posted but you can't be the 'best player of all time'. You can only be the 'best player of your own time'. How would Messi and Ronaldo have handled the ankle deep in mud pitches, the heavy leather footballs and tackles that would be GBH anywhere else? I remember it well, still got the scars as have many of my opponents!

Yes, has anyone mentioned the player nominated by both Maradona and Pele as the greatest - Alberto Di Stefano?

 

[Methuselah]

Yes, has anyone mentioned the player nominated by both Maradona and Pele as the greatest - Alberto Di Stefano?

Interesting that BigMick as I was going to post Di Stefano as one of the all-time greats. Saw him play (on TV) several times, when you think he and Puskas played together, mind boggling.

 

[Billy Dean]

I've read through this thread because I'm not really interested in working today.

The people saying Messi is worse than Ronaldo have also said the following in other threads (amongst other things):

1. Guardiola's Barcelona team only dominated the world because of Messi
2. Guardiola is a fraud and only ever won trophies because of Messi
3. John Stones should be a central midfielder

Either they have an agenda or they're very stupid. Either way they're not to be trusted.

 

[RomanReigns]

Ronaldo will be known for having the bottle to try different leagues and dominating them in the process

wouldn't say he dominated liga nos or the prem and as of yet he has not dominated serie A

the only year he truly dominated in the prem was 07-08 imo

if Ronaldo dominated the prem based on just those 3 years from 06-09 then you could say lukaku is dominating the prem now

 

[FC sexy xxx]

The midget had been very fortunate to play in one of the greatest sides of all time with some of the greatest players, no doubt they played a big part in how he's done. Meanwhile the true goat ronaldo you could drop into anyside in any league and he'd drag them up to his level

your not fortunate to play at the top level for Barca for that long mate . It means he is quality and worthy of being there