Lionel Messi

[SNSUN]

Simple question really: Best player of all time?

 

24 years old, and he's scored more goals than any other Barca player ever. Another ten years there, and he'll make a record that will never be beaten. In my opinion, Argentina need to win a World Cup, orchestrated by him, for him to overtake Maradona as the best player ever. (After Matt Le Tiss obv...)

[This Charming Man]

Whilst winning a World Cup would certainly help his claim to being the best player of all time, you get so many average sides in it these days that the teams in the latter stages of the Champions League are probably stronger than most of them and he's certainly done the business in that tournament.

 

Pele and Maradona were just before my time so can't really comment on them but Messi is by a country mile the best player I've seen in my lifetime.

[Hatch]

Difficult to judge as we see Messi every week on Sky Sports, whereas we hardly saw many Maradona games.

Although Maradona did win the World Cup on his own in 1986 so that was some acheivement, and I did see that , he was simply awesome.

 

I don't count Pele, because his career stats include goals that he scored playing table football in pubs against his two year old children and so on.

 

FWIW, i vote Messi.

[petermcpete]

my thoughts:

 

https://sotontab.co.uk/sport/2012/03/10/is-messi-overrated/

[S-Clarke]

His goal scoring amounts are incredible. Amazing really.

 

But you have to wonder is it down to the strength of the defenders in the Spanish leagues? Apart from Barca and Real there is an awful lack of investment for all the their teams (Malaga excluded).

 

So teams like Granada aren't that special, and most championship teams would beat them - so you need to put the league into context too.

 

Then again look what he did to Bayer a few weeks back. He is exceptionally talented, but his la liga goal haul is aided by the decline of teams in Spain.

[This Charming Man]

His goal scoring amounts are incredible. Amazing really.

 

But you have to wonder is it down to the strength of the defenders in the Spanish leagues? Apart from Barca and Real there is an awful lack of investment for all the their teams (Malaga excluded).

 

So teams like Granada aren't that special, and most championship teams would beat them - so you need to put the league into context too.

 

Then again look what he did to Bayer a few weeks back. He is exceptionally talented, but his la liga goal haul is aided by the decline of teams in Spain.

 

I wouldn't say that. Look what mid-table Bilbao did to Man Utd over two legs.

[skintsaint]

Potential to be one of greatest, I'll make up my mind when he is at least 30.

 

Would still rather have Ronaldo in my team though even though he is a c***.

[Thedelldays]

i think we are seeing (on sky) the greatest ever

[Tim Southampton Rover]

His goal scoring amounts are incredible. Amazing really.

 

But you have to wonder is it down to the strength of the defenders in the Spanish leagues? Apart from Barca and Real there is an awful lack of investment for all the their teams (Malaga excluded).

 

 

Does he record in the Champions League against the top clubs prove that it doesn't matter whether the defenders in the Spanish League are sh*te or not, he's blummin' fantastic even against the world's best.

 

It's impossible to tell who's the greatest player EVER but it's easy to say that he is without doubt the greatest player of his generation, same as Maradona was in his generation and Pele in his.

 

The exciting thing is, who's going to be the next player to step up? Neymar???

[Saint_clark]

Does he record in the Champions League against the top clubs prove that it doesn't matter whether the defenders in the Spanish League are sh*te or not, he's blummin' fantastic even against the world's best.

 

It's impossible to tell who's the greatest player EVER but it's easy to say that he is without doubt the greatest player of his generation, same as Maradona was in his generation and Pele in his.

 

The exciting thing is, who's going to be the next player to step up? Neymar???

 

People are getting ahead of themselves - we've got at least another 6 years of Messi being untouchable before anyone can even think about being the best in the world. Once Messi loses that agility I think we'll see him drop back to a playmaker role like Xavi fills now.

[sambosa75]

He did score a ridiculously good goal a while back but hard to judge how good he is in that league (yeah you heard me Pele!).

 

I love Messi but find it a shame there aren't more top, top players. There are many excellent players, but if we're honest Ronaldo and Messi are miles above anyone right now. Xavi is as good technically, but more of a team player, more a very effective cog. In terms of brilliant individuals, it's just the 2 of them, and neither are traditional strikers. I liked the days of sh1thot 30+ a season strikers all over the place. Batistuta was my favourite, unbelievable striker. Then Weah, Del Piero, Zidane, Baggio, Figo. Perhaps I'm just ghey for the 90s.

 

You missed out Marcelo Salas. IMO one of the most under-rated strikers of the late 90's/early 00's.

[Smirking_Saint]

Probably, but would love to see Ronaldo & Messi switch places, and see what impact they have.

 

Imo barca build a team to get the best out of messi where as ronaldo is an individual in a team at real and more often than not drags them to his level.