Today's Football 2014/15

[Merseyzig]

Some of Messi's finest goals have been saved for the latter stages of the CL. The chip against Arsenal 5 years ago (Camp Nou) , that chip tonight, the solo run at the Bernabeu, the hammer of a shot against Manure at Wembley, even his header in the 2008 final in Rome against Utd was a class goal.
Sometimes on the telly they do get it right, and I enjoyed the few seconds that Tyler and Neville just left the microphones alone to let us take in that 2nd goal and the reactions to it in the crowd.

 

[FTY]

Get goosebumps watching that second Messi goal, gotta be the best ever

 

[Jamo Martinez]

Messi. What a very good player he is.

Shame he'll never take the top prize in the game though. Never really shone on the biggest stage of all for his country in the World Cup. If he'd won that he'd legitimately have a shout for one of the best players ever,

Hard lines that.

Ffs Dave. I agree with almost everything you say on football and politics but can't help but reach the conclusion that your hatred of Barcelona is blinding you to the true greatness of this guy. 'very good' are the words you use to describe someone like Mikel Arteta.

He definitely has a shout for ONE of the best players ever. If he'd won a WC he'd legitimately have a shout for THE best player ever.

Absolutely ridiculous the amount of times he scores goals that good. Yeah I know scoring against the bottom club in la liga isn't a true measure, but he does the same against the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in CL semi finals. Flat track bullies don't become all time top scorer in the CL.

As I say we're talking 'shouts' here. We'll never be able to truly judge who is better. However it's too easy to dismiss the likes of Puskas, Cruyff and Messi, for example, as not quite all time greats because the teams they played in happened to lose one off matches (all against German teams incidentally).

 

[FTY]

Nah, still don't see Neymar as a top talent. He can score against teams with no defence and dive, but that's it.

Pretending to not rate Neymar stopped being cool in 2013

 

[SpurtingLesbian]

Pretending to not rate Neymar stopped being cool in 2013

not pretending mate, can't see the differeance between him and say a random Nasri-type, except Neymar dives more.

 

[bicycleheader]

Just back from a few beers after the game. That wont be forgotten for a long long time. Voice almost gone. Explosion of relief for the first goal, and just pure mayhem and joy for the second. Lionel Messi....just wow.

 

[bicycleheader]

Messi. What a very good player he is.

Shame he'll never take the top prize in the game though. Never really shone on the biggest stage of all for his country in the World Cup. If he'd won that he'd legitimately have a shout for one of the best players ever,

Hard lines that.

weak effort David

 

[Deco]

Funny contrast between Messi tonight and Ronaldo last night..

Messi will win the CL 5 times total by the time he retires, and remembered as the greatest (bar Pele of course).

 

[LinekersLegs]

Pretending to not rate Neymar stopped being cool in 2013

The way he dealt with the pressure of expectation in the leadup to the Brazilian World cup and how he carried the team until his injury was just amazing.

Many players have folded under half the stress, let alone a lid of 22.

 

[LinekersLegs]

not pretending mate, can't see the differeance between him and say a random Nasri-type, except Neymar dives more.

He's 5th in Brazil's all time top scorer list with 43 goals in 62 caps and he is still at the tender age of 23. Not keen on his theatrics but he is superb player when he is in the mood and he probably hasn't hit his peak yet.

 

[Khalekan]

Funny contrast between Messi tonight and Ronaldo last night..

Messi will win the CL 5 times total by the time he retires, and remembered as the greatest (bar Pele of course).

I would say Messi is a better player than Pele was.

But both trail in the wake of Diego, IMO.

 

[obc]

was at the Copa Libertadores match today, elimination round, Guarani (my Paraguayan side) hosting Brazilian powerhouse Corinthians in the first leg. they are a small budget club, stadium is a 7k capacity cement pit devoid of actual seats. by advancing past the group stage, this is the farthest they have been in 112 years.

tonight was at the big national stadium (slightly less of a pit, much bigger capacity, though the club doesn't draw terribly) ... they were supposed to get smashed. they didn't get the memo. Vid link of the 2nd half goals in a tense, physical match. 1st was a free kick reminiscent of USA v ingerland 2010. 2nd was brilliant.



lucky to be sitting second row, center line, for the biggest int'l win in club history. well, biggest to date.

 

[Milk]

I would say Messi is a better player than Pele was.

But both trail in the wake of Diego, IMO.

I would agree with that. Pele never played in Europe for a start. Maradonna used to get the **** kicked out of him every game in Italy and still look $m.

Wonder if Messi would get 50+ goals in the Prem.? Be great to see him here even if it was playing for Chelski

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I agree. It is an exclusive club though and you need to have that WC winners medal to be up there in the company of Maradona and Pele.

I agree with this sentiment

The lads a magician though. Truly exceptional

Our Generation has been lucky to have him and Ronaldo in their eternal joust to decide whose better

 

[Ashtonian]

I highly disagree that winning or not winning the world cup is a marker on whether you should be one of the best.

Last time i checked Messi did get to the final and he couldn't win it by himself , so his team mates as a unit came runners up, not messi alone. Is that such a bad thing? Did pele win the world cup by himself or was he surrounded by other great players, maradona as well.

If you use trophies against a player then use them to encourage praise for them. Henry won everything, best player this country has ever seen in the modern game i believe, Cannivaro great defender with cups behind him. Xavi and iniesta have all trophies as well, including world cups.

My point is are those better at football than messi? No. They are extremely good players, world class even, but they aren't as good as him, and having a world cup does not put that bench mark down.