Who’s the GOAT?

[brigadier]

 

[Goat]

Its Diego for me.

Such a talent.

Clearly CR7 and the little fella have done it for much longer.

R9 would have been the ultimate GOAT if not for those injuries.

 

[Zatara]

Didn't see two of them play, so I'd go Messi...but he'd have to scrap it out with someone not on the list.

As a forward...Ronaldo × 2 and Romario for the Brazilians...Maradona for Argentina.

Messi is miles off.

 

[glorydaze]

i think if they could move era's Pele and Maradonna would be even better. Pitches'boots' balls and more important protection from the grocks. Move Ronaldo and Messi back they would still be good but not at the standard they are now. so my vote is "not a kin clue".

 

[MikeH72]

If you put all of them in their primes up against each other, ability wise, it’s Messi. For longevity and achievements, Ronaldo edges it. For entertainment value and ability to carry a team on his back, it’s Maradona. I wouldn’t call anyone wrong for picking any of them though.

 

[TheBigIguana]

The best I've ever seen is Messi simply because he matched Ronaldo essentially goal for goal while also spending time as the greatest creative player in the game and possibly also having a period as the best forward passing player from midfield in the world as well. I'm not sure as good as guys like Mbappe promise to be that we will ever see someone who can do all three of those things at the best in the world level that Messi did.

That being said I wouldn't really think wading into a debate across eras is worth it. A guy who I think gets lost in this for example is Puskas but as amazing as he was he played in an era where the only number approaching his goal tally was the number of cigarettes smoked at halftime. I look back at something like the Goal of the Century in 1970 and as great as that is the speed of the play just looks like a completely different sport from what we see now.

Other factors including players by and large spending their entire careers in their home country meaning a league never approached what we see weekly now and it becomes something that just doesn't line up well. So for me it is better to go sort of by decade or something of that nature. Puskas for the 50s, Pele in the 60s, Cruijff (?) for the 70s, Maradona 80s, Ronaldo (?) 90s and so on. Give Cristiano the 00s and Messi the 10s to keep those factions happy and you've traced the best player in the world title belt pretty close.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

All of them. Pele was the greatest of the old school. Comparing him to modern footballers is just daft as the game has moved on, neither could you put CR7 or Messi in a team back then.

Maradona bridged the gap between old and new and his skill all the while players were physically trying to knock is block off was a sight to behold.

Messi and Ronaldo are difficult to choose between but I've always maintained put Messi in this Everton team and you probably wouldn't get much out of him but Ronaldo would make a difference just because he can score all kinds of goals. No doubt Messi is technically a better footballer though, in a less physical Maradona sort of way.

Messi is like James but twice as good, so I reckon he'd do alright.

 

[TheBigIguana]

All of them. Pele was the greatest of the old school. Comparing him to modern footballers is just daft as the game has moved on, neither could you put CR7 or Messi in a team back then.

Maradona bridged the gap between old and new and his skill all the while players were physically trying to knock is block off was a sight to behold.

Messi and Ronaldo are difficult to choose between but I've always maintained put Messi in this Everton team and you probably wouldn't get much out of him but Ronaldo would make a difference just because he can score all kinds of goals. No doubt Messi is technically a better footballer though, in a less physical Maradona sort of way.

Fwiw if you take Messi out of the current Barca side we would absolutely give them a game. That team stinks right now and he's sort of starting to hit the backside of his career and yet he's still outrageous.

I agree with the all of them part 100%

 

[chrismpw]

All of them. Pele was the greatest of the old school. Comparing him to modern footballers is just daft as the game has moved on, neither could you put CR7 or Messi in a team back then.

Maradona bridged the gap between old and new and his skill all the while players were physically trying to knock is block off was a sight to behold.

Messi and Ronaldo are difficult to choose between but I've always maintained put Messi in this Everton team and you probably wouldn't get much out of him but Ronaldo would make a difference just because he can score all kinds of goals. No doubt Messi is technically a better footballer though, in a less physical Maradona sort of way.

Thanks for this, -i agree- it saved me a lot of typing.

No Cruyff in this list though?

 

[JMT]

Messi > Brazilian Ronaldo > CR7

 

[Blue 1]

I guess it probably depends on your age but it's Maradona for me, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi is obviously a wonderful player, but as others have said, he's never played outside his comfort zone, never produced at a World Cup, and had the best players in the world as a supporting cast at Barcelona.

Maradona dragged Napoli to the top and won a World Cup almost singlehandedly, all while players would try and snap his ankles, and while being a top caner.

C. Ronaldo has done it in most of the world's top leagues and mastered multiple positions. I think people are predisposed against him sometimes because he comes across as a bit of an arrogant bell occasionally.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Pele for me

Not only for how good he was but for the larger cultural impact he had of being the world's best player when the TV age truly began in the 50's and 60's

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Cristiano for me.

Although in terms of just talent/skill with a ball Ronaldinho absolute magician.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Its Diego for me.

Such a talent.

Clearly CR7 and the little fella have done it for much longer.

R9 would have been the ultimate GOAT if not for those injuries.

He was amazing in that year at Barca, and indeed in his first season at Inter. I'd argue that Messi was at that level for several seasons though, and especially from 2009-2016 where he was just phenomenal. For his ruthless efficiency, CR7 has to be hugely respected, and you could argue that you'd want him in your team, but as a neutral Messi has produced so many moments that simply take your breath away. Football is a form of entertainment, and as well as producing insane numbers, he's done so in a way that has been simply jaw-dropping for well over a decade.

https://www.givemesport.com/1471782...d-cristiano-ronaldo-in-big-games-since-201011 is also perhaps worth reading in terms of performances in big games.

It's interesting in that graphic to note the divergence between Messi and Ronaldo over the years. In terms of goals scored they've been broadly comparable throughout the last decade, but whereas in the first half Ronaldo kept pace and was even marginally ahead in terms of his creativity, in the second half Messi has soared ahead. I think this highlights how Messi has not been content to be one of the best goalscorers in the world and to pad his own stats out, but has also been the best creative player in the world as well.

 

[Prevenger17]

Case to be made for all of them, but there's rarely one GOAT in a game. It depends on what you like and what criteria are important to you. Used to be a Messi man, but I like the variety of Ronaldo's career and the fact that he dragged Portugal to a Euros. The 3 back to back CLs were something else too.

The only reason I'm not voting Maradona is because I never saw him play live and would be voting on reputation alone. From watching that documentary, he looked absolutely unreal and would probably get my vote had I witnessed his prime