Neymar is CRAP.

[admirschleck]

Really? You never saw Maradona then? Or James McFadden?

Which is ironic because i think Messi doesn't come close to Maradona for natural skill.

Natural skill is one thing, football ability is another. Maradona had loads of talent obviously, but he didn't work on it as much as Messi did/does. We could speak about beauty or the way they played the game, but that's more of a personal thing. It would still be Messi for me, that's certain. I have to admit that I never watched Maradona live though because of my age, but from what I've seen and that's tons of YouTube and TV material and from what I've heard from people who did, it still doesn't change my opinion.

If we are not talking about "natural skill" or the way they play the game and focus on stats and facts, which is the only way you can really compare footballers of different eras, especially since both Maradona and Messi played rather similar football, this is what we get: Messi won 6 league titles so far, compared to Maradona's 3. Messi won 3 continental titles compared to Maradona's 1. Messi won 2 intercontinental titles compared to Maradona's 0. Messi won 0 international trophies compared to Maradona's 1, which is the only thing Maradona did better than him. Messi's international goals per game ratio is 0.46 while Maradona is on 0.37. Messi's total goals per game is 0.79 compared to Maradona's 0.50. Messi holds way more individual and team records than Maradona, is a better passer, is a better shooter and a set-piece taker. Messi also plays better with head, even though they're both quite short. Messi has the most Ballon d'Or wins (4), most goals in one calender year (91), most goals scored in a season (73) etc, etc, etc. Maradona perhaps was/is more liked because he was a bit of a rebel, but he just wasn't a better footballer.

There are tons of these records Messi holds and no one, especially not Maradona, is even close to them. It's quite easy to see who is better of two. Pele is the only person that can be compared with Messi and it is a close fight between these two, but seeing Messi is only just 28 and has at least 4 years left on top level, if not much more, I think he'll definitely surpass big Pele.

TL;DR - Messi is better than Maradona.

 

[FCBarça]

Neymar's a future Ballon D'Or winner, that's for sure. If he remains lucky with injuries, it's very likely that he will end his career achieving more than Ronaldo. I just fear his arrogance and ego might limit his further development. People who compare him with Messi need to calm down a bit though. There was not, is not and will most likely never be anyone with football abilities & skills even close to Messi's. End of.

Agreed...These are the pitfalls that befall many Brasilian greats...Romario's & Ronaldo's light shined bright but briefly, similar could be said of Rivaldo & Ronaldinho but they entertained like few others...Neymar could be the exception but it's too early to tell...I'd say my biggest complaints with him early in his first season is that he saw a dropoff after the winter break which I attributed to not staying in shape via too many public appearances, media engagements etc...He has great role models within the squad and is more ambitious professionally as a footballer than I initially gave him credit for...The sky is the limit and I truly believe Suarez has made him even more lethal

Id say he's now on the verge of being better than Ronaldo CURRENTLY is

For me, the Ballon D'Or (Despite being more politics than anything now) should be Messi, Suarez, Neymar for 2015...IMHO

We'll never see Messi's like again, his ability to dribble past so many tax laws puts him up there with the best.

As for Messi, there will only ever be one Leo

 

[Dithering Dougie]

Agreed...These are the pitfalls that befall many Brasilian greats...Romario's & Ronaldo's light shined bright but briefly, similar could be said of Rivaldo & Ronaldinho but they entertained like few others...Neymar could be the exception but it's too early to tell...I'd say my biggest complaints with him early in his first season is that he saw a dropoff after the winter break which I attributed to not staying in shape via too many public appearances, media engagements etc...He has great role models within the squad and is more ambitious professionally as a footballer than I initially gave him credit for...The sky is the limit and I truly believe Suarez has made him even more lethal




For me, the Ballon D'Or (Despite being more politics than anything now) should be Messi, Suarez, Neymar for 2015...IMHO




As for Messi, there will only ever be one Leo

Oh have you finished spreading you lies on Redcafe and brought your boorish condescending drivel to us now.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

Natural skill is one thing, football ability is another. Maradona had loads of talent obviously, but he didn't work on it as much as Messi did/does. We could speak about beauty or the way they played the game, but that's more of a personal thing. It would still be Messi for me, that's certain. I have to admit that I never watched Maradona live though because of my age, but from what I've seen and that's tons of YouTube and TV material and from what I've heard from people who did, it still doesn't change my opinion.

If we are not talking about "natural skill" or the way they play the game and focus on stats and facts, which is the only way you can really compare footballers of different eras, especially since both Maradona and Messi played rather similar football, this is what we get: Messi won 6 league titles so far, compared to Maradona's 3. Messi won 3 continental titles compared to Maradona's 1. Messi won 2 intercontinental titles compared to Maradona's 0. Messi won 0 international trophies compared to Maradona's 1, which is the only thing Maradona did better than him. Messi's international goals per game ratio is 0.46 while Maradona is on 0.37. Messi's total goals per game is 0.79 compared to Maradona's 0.50. Messi holds way more individual and team records than Maradona, is a better passer, is a better shooter and a set-piece taker. Messi also plays better with head, even though they're both quite short. Messi has the most Ballon d'Or wins (4), most goals in one calender year (91), most goals scored in a season (73) etc, etc, etc. Maradona perhaps was/is more liked because he was a bit of a rebel, but he just wasn't a better footballer.

There are tons of these records Messi holds and no one, especially not Maradona, is even close to them. It's quite easy to see who is better of two. Pele is the only person that can be compared with Messi and it is a close fight between these two, but seeing Messi is only just 28 and has at least 4 years left on top level, if not much more, I think he'll definitely surpass big Pele.

TL;DR - Messi is better than Maradona.

Great post, and a total smacking down of those who think Maradona is better cause he dragged a bunch of drunks, punks, amateurs and no hoper bums to the world cup all by himself with no cheating.

 

[admirschleck]

Great post, and a total smacking down of those who think Maradona is better cause he dragged a bunch of drunks, punks, amateurs and no hoper bums to the world cup all by himself with no cheating.

Maradona himself was drunk, drugged, punk and a rebel bum. Not much better than anyone in that team, except he was better at football.

 

[FCBarça]

Oh have you finished spreading you lies on Redcafe and brought your boorish condescending drivel to us now.

Certainly sounds off topic

 

[glorydaze]

Natural skill is one thing, football ability is another. Maradona had loads of talent obviously, but he didn't work on it as much as Messi did/does. We could speak about beauty or the way they played the game, but that's more of a personal thing. It would still be Messi for me, that's certain. I have to admit that I never watched Maradona live though because of my age, but from what I've seen and that's tons of YouTube and TV material and from what I've heard from people who did, it still doesn't change my opinion.

If we are not talking about "natural skill" or the way they play the game and focus on stats and facts, which is the only way you can really compare footballers of different eras, especially since both Maradona and Messi played rather similar football, this is what we get: Messi won 6 league titles so far, compared to Maradona's 3. Messi won 3 continental titles compared to Maradona's 1. Messi won 2 intercontinental titles compared to Maradona's 0. Messi won 0 international trophies compared to Maradona's 1, which is the only thing Maradona did better than him. Messi's international goals per game ratio is 0.46 while Maradona is on 0.37. Messi's total goals per game is 0.79 compared to Maradona's 0.50. Messi holds way more individual and team records than Maradona, is a better passer, is a better shooter and a set-piece taker. Messi also plays better with head, even though they're both quite short. Messi has the most Ballon d'Or wins (4), most goals in one calender year (91), most goals scored in a season (73) etc, etc, etc. Maradona perhaps was/is more liked because he was a bit of a rebel, but he just wasn't a better footballer.

There are tons of these records Messi holds and no one, especially not Maradona, is even close to them. It's quite easy to see who is better of two. Pele is the only person that can be compared with Messi and it is a close fight between these two, but seeing Messi is only just 28 and has at least 4 years left on top level, if not much more, I think he'll definitely surpass big Pele.

TL;DR - Messi is better than Maradona.

You missed one more stat. Drug bans, Maradona 1 Messi 0.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

He's hardly crap is he?

Overhyped?

Maybe

But I'd certainly be prepared to admit that he's rather good at this football lark

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Natural skill is one thing, football ability is another. Maradona had loads of talent obviously, but he didn't work on it as much as Messi did/does. We could speak about beauty or the way they played the game, but that's more of a personal thing. It would still be Messi for me, that's certain. I have to admit that I never watched Maradona live though because of my age, but from what I've seen and that's tons of YouTube and TV material and from what I've heard from people who did, it still doesn't change my opinion.

If we are not talking about "natural skill" or the way they play the game and focus on stats and facts, which is the only way you can really compare footballers of different eras, especially since both Maradona and Messi played rather similar football, this is what we get: Messi won 6 league titles so far, compared to Maradona's 3. Messi won 3 continental titles compared to Maradona's 1. Messi won 2 intercontinental titles compared to Maradona's 0. Messi won 0 international trophies compared to Maradona's 1, which is the only thing Maradona did better than him. Messi's international goals per game ratio is 0.46 while Maradona is on 0.37. Messi's total goals per game is 0.79 compared to Maradona's 0.50. Messi holds way more individual and team records than Maradona, is a better passer, is a better shooter and a set-piece taker. Messi also plays better with head, even though they're both quite short. Messi has the most Ballon d'Or wins (4), most goals in one calender year (91), most goals scored in a season (73) etc, etc, etc. Maradona perhaps was/is more liked because he was a bit of a rebel, but he just wasn't a better footballer.

There are tons of these records Messi holds and no one, especially not Maradona, is even close to them. It's quite easy to see who is better of two. Pele is the only person that can be compared with Messi and it is a close fight between these two, but seeing Messi is only just 28 and has at least 4 years left on top level, if not much more, I think he'll definitely surpass big Pele.

TL;DR - Messi is better than Maradona.

Two things work in Maradona's favour. Firstly, he scored incredible goals against England, so English people have a high opinion of him. Secondly, he was great during the adolescence of many of us on here, and it's been proven that we have higher opinions of those who were at their peak during our formative years.

Rationally, Messi is head and shoulders above Maradona. Anyone could see what a phenom he was going to be (vault )

 

[blue4eva77]

Natural skill is one thing, football ability is another. Maradona had loads of talent obviously, but he didn't work on it as much as Messi did/does. We could speak about beauty or the way they played the game, but that's more of a personal thing. It would still be Messi for me, that's certain. I have to admit that I never watched Maradona live though because of my age, but from what I've seen and that's tons of YouTube and TV material and from what I've heard from people who did, it still doesn't change my opinion.

If we are not talking about "natural skill" or the way they play the game and focus on stats and facts, which is the only way you can really compare footballers of different eras, especially since both Maradona and Messi played rather similar football, this is what we get: Messi won 6 league titles so far, compared to Maradona's 3. Messi won 3 continental titles compared to Maradona's 1. Messi won 2 intercontinental titles compared to Maradona's 0. Messi won 0 international trophies compared to Maradona's 1, which is the only thing Maradona did better than him. Messi's international goals per game ratio is 0.46 while Maradona is on 0.37. Messi's total goals per game is 0.79 compared to Maradona's 0.50. Messi holds way more individual and team records than Maradona, is a better passer, is a better shooter and a set-piece taker. Messi also plays better with head, even though they're both quite short. Messi has the most Ballon d'Or wins (4), most goals in one calender year (91), most goals scored in a season (73) etc, etc, etc. Maradona perhaps was/is more liked because he was a bit of a rebel, but he just wasn't a better footballer.

There are tons of these records Messi holds and no one, especially not Maradona, is even close to them. It's quite easy to see who is better of two. Pele is the only person that can be compared with Messi and it is a close fight between these two, but seeing Messi is only just 28 and has at least 4 years left on top level, if not much more, I think he'll definitely surpass big Pele.

TL;DR - Messi is better than Maradona.

Then the rest of your post was just a waste of time really

 

[admirschleck]

Then the rest of your post was just a waste of time really

Wow. I bet you watched him play every week.

 

[USABlue]

Fell down like a leaf in the wind again

 

[Jamo Martinez]

Messi has the most Ballon d'Or wins (

I agree with you generally but this is not really a fair comparison as back then this prize was exclusively for European players.

 

[Nymzee]

I don't know why people bother to compare Messi/Ronaldo to Maradona/Pele: they're of two completely different generations. Almost every aspect of the game was different back then as well as playing against wildly varied types of opposition. You can barely compare Pele with Maradona because the retired before his Napoli days. However comparing Messi & Ronaldo is fine because they're both at their peaks in the same time frame.

No one can definitely say if modern day greats are better/worse than legends of old.

 

[Fuleco]

I agree with you generally but this is not really a fair comparison as back then this prize was exclusively for European players.

The only people who care about the Ballon d'Or are Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.