Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

  • Participation within this subforum is only available to members who have had 5+ posts approved elsewhere.

Is Messi the greatest player ever?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Xavi said:
I bet Tony Pullis would probably say someone like Nickola Zigic is the best ever.....and who are we to argue FFS
Click to expand...

I thought he was always partial to Dan Marino. Strongest throwing arm of all time.

Someday Messi will have to shine on the national team to be considered the greatest. He doesn't have to win it, he just has to put the team on his back. He gets a pass for the last 2 WCs (didn't play in the loss, young -- Maradona was a horrible coach). If there is one saving grace about national team matches it is that you don't get to pick your teammates (unless its "GET JOE COLE IN" England) and you don't get to attach yourself to a squad in which you are surrounded by 5+ of the 20 best players in the world.

Would also like to see him get out of Spain. Its Barca and Madrid vs. the Championship now. Gone are the days when a competitor like Valencia and Athletico could have a couple stars in their prime to challenge your title.
 
Doesn't Messi just wake up and think to himself 'what's the point?'. He needs a new career, something more of a challenge. Like football in space.
 
Maradonna played when players used to be able to tackle properly(and naughtilly).

When hardmen could smash you without the fear of a red card.
Messi is amazing, his finishing is glorious.

But i bet he never met anyone like 'the butcher of bilbao'.
Maradonna 'the best' by a long way, and i hate those greasy,cheating sweaty argie knobs. Stracq being the obvious exception as hes a blue.
 

Yes, Maradona played when defenders could kick him but Messi plays when defenders can run, jump, turn and tackle far better than they could in the 80s.
 
somuchfun said:
I'm not 100% convinced of Messi yet as even though he managed a hat trick for Argentina a while back he hasn't really reproduced his club form in the national side.

His club goal scoring record is excellent and as he's still a young lad he has managed to play 50+ games per season which naturally helps him with his tally.

But when you look at people like Maradona who single handedly won stuff for Napoli and to lesser extent, Argentina, and compare it with Messi who has only shined for the club he's been educated, playing as the main outlet of a side that has world class playmakers and the best possession based team which actually scores more goals without him in the side, it's clear that to be recognized as the best, Leo still has a lot to prove.
He might be the best already but I personally need more to start declaring such bold statements. He's scored loads for a CL winning side, yes. But I feel the side would've been a CL winning side without him. And, if, say Real Madrid would've won the
CL, you couldn't've really say who should've been the best player of the year, never mind all time.

He's prolific and he's a flairy midget. I can see why people are all excited. But these are things that are best studied after the peak of someones playing career and what if he stops scoring? Gets injured, goes Torres? I say he has to produce more than what he's done so far to be considered among the greats.

The most exciting player in my lifetime (where I would've understood anything about footie) thus far has been El Dinho in his pomp. Didn't quite make it to the list of all time greats but the best player of his time and still my fave. MoyLeZ should sign him up, defo.
Click to expand...
I'm going to have to take your word for that one
 
Teams often play better or score more without their star players because Messi is only rested for piss easy games like Sporting Gijon. United are better without Rooney because when fit he plays in every game unless it's a walkover against Aldershot in the Carling Cup. Team tats with/without a player mean nothing.
 
I would like to see what he can do in a team thats not so unfairly excellent before judging.

He is obviously freakishly good though. I think he needs to step up for Argentina to be deemed quite as good as the likes of Maradonna and Pele.
 

Bruce Wayne said:
I don't get the Napoli were average line. The two seasons before he joined they finished 9th and 11th. His 1st season they were 10th. The 1st title they won it was their defence that won it for them. Juventus scored more goals than Napoli, but Napoli had a much better defence. Can't imagine Maradonna did much to help the defence. Maybe signing Italian internationals like Ciro Ferrera and Salvatore Bagni did though. Add in that they had the likes of Alameao, Careca and di Napoli in their attack and it was hardly the rubbish side they made out to be.

When they next won the league, both Baggio and van Basten scored more goals than Maradonna. His record in Europe is also poor, with Napoli never really impressing, despite the absence of English teams post Heysel and it was Milan that dominated Europe around that time. In 25 European games for Napoli he scored just 5 goals. Messi in contrast has 49 in 65 European games, with a stunning 12 in 7 this season!

Messi also has a comparable goals per game ratio at international level, despite never hitting his Barca form for Argentina. A lot of all this seems to reflect the reminiscence bump, which suggests that whoever is at their peak during our adolescence is thereafter regarded as the best ever. That and of course that during that time Maradonna hit his peak against England so he's at the forefront of our national consciousness.
Click to expand...

Two different competitions though. Now champions of nothing are playing in the competition. Back in the day the sides that duked it out were of a certain standard. There is some bad dross from overseas taking part just so the TV can go further and to manufactures games and stats.
 
Its always hard to judge best "ever".

Lets just say Messi is without doubt the greatest footballer on the planet at the moment.

Pele was clearly head and shoulders above everything in his time, same for Maradona.

As for the others, never really saw enough to judge, ive seen clips of Best, Cruyff and others and it would appear they had no peers.

Zidane was also an awesome player and Plantini could also play like a complete boss.

As I say, best ever can never be decided, different eras, sometimes even different games.

I mean when Dixie was playing, teams played with 5 Strikers, imagine Moyes in that era, he would have had a breakdown.
 

Status
Not open for further replies.

Welcome to GrandOldTeam

Get involved. Registration is simple and free.

Register
Back
Top