Lionel Messi

[craigbetts]

Milligan when your old, read the endless list of greatest footballers of all time like you will see in any search today. I would say Pele will still top these lists in 50 years time and Messi may be in the region of the 3rd - 7 th positions. Football is not just what you can do with a football although being the expert you are you already know this!

[mondatoo]

I'd be very suprised if Messi wasn't at least compared to Pele/Maradona in 50 years time.

[kinboshi]

No mention of Andy Carroll in this thread yet either. 

[sweet potata!]

i've watched barca live twice in the nou camp and they were the most boring matches i've ever watched.

Care to elaborate, are you saying that their style of play is boring to watch? Or did you just run bad and see bad games.

[MANTIS01]

Thing with Maradonna is that he alone lifted unfashionable Napoli from abject obscurity to the height of their glory and the people of Naples proclaimed him God. Then he went and lifted the whole of Argentina by scooping the 86 world cup as a single maverick and the millions of people in that country proclaim him God. Messi plays for Barcelona and as yet no impact on the international stage. Being the best footballer isn't just about technical ability...imo impact, influence, winning hearts of people and historical legacy need to be factored. Messi is too young to compare to Diego right now imo.

[mondatoo]

The majority of people in Argentina will always love Maradona more than Messi. Some of them don't even like Messi due to him leaving to go to Europe at a young age so Messi will never be able to compete there.

[millidonk]

Milligan when your old, read the endless list of greatest footballers of all time like you will see in any search today. I would say Pele will still top these lists in 50 years time and Messi may be in the region of the 3rd - 7 th positions. Football is not just what you can do with a football although being the expert you are you already know this!

When i am your age old I will read these lists and I genuinely think Messi will be at the top! The lists you see now will have been voted for by people of the older generation, this is the only reason Pele would be at the top. The game is so much more advanced these days, with so many more technically superior players. Although Messi is second to none with a ball at his feet, his runs, eye for a pass, eye for goal and ability to turn games etc is incomparable.

[Alverton]

The game is so much more advanced these days, with so many more technically superior players. Although Messi is second to none with a ball at his feet, his runs, eye for a pass, eye for goal and ability to turn games etc is incomparable.

This.  Better players/opposition week in week out, and he still owns.

Also why is Best in this discussion?  I don't think I've ever meet someone who's said Best, who isn't a Utd fan and 50+.  Just seems to be in the same vein as how Giggs will be be remembered, United and PL legend but never in the same category Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane, Pele, Maradona etc.

[ACE2M]

i've watched barca live twice in the nou camp and they were the most boring matches i've ever watched.

Care to elaborate, are you saying that their style of play is boring to watch? Or did you just run bad and see bad games.

They were playing average teams who never touched the ball for about 90% of the game. Watching 5 yd pass after 5 yd pass for 90 mins gets very boring. Of course there is some magic and its great when it happens and you appreciate it for the brilliance it is. But i'd genuinely prefer to watch a passion filled end to end championship game.

El Classicos are not even watchable anymore, i've had to turn the last 2 off after 20 mins, just pathetic individuals everyone of them.

The greatest ever debate is pointless, i thought Maradona was the best ever, when Zidane was in his pomp i thought he was the best ever (as did others on here who are probably now going with Messi). Watch a messi highlights reel and a Maradona one on youtube back to back and both will make you go wow, but you won't be able to clearly say Messi is better because he did that trick or this trick etc. They all just wonderous players who i love or have loved watching.

[WarBwastard]

Thing with Maradonna is that he alone lifted unfashionable Napoli from abject obscurity to the height of their glory and the people of Naples proclaimed him God. Then he went and lifted the whole of Argentina by scooping the 86 world cup as a single maverick and the millions of people in that country proclaim him God. Messi plays for Barcelona and as yet no impact on the international stage. Being the best footballer isn't just about technical ability...imo impact, influence, winning hearts of people and historical legacy need to be factored. Messi is too young to compare to Diego right now imo.

Being the best footballer has nothing to do with wining people's hearts.  It's about who er.. is the best at footballer.  Who has the best touch, the best control, pass, vision, strength, goal scoring record etc.

Who the most inspirational footballer might be is a different matter and involves winning hearts and legacy etc.. but this is just about who plays better.

[Dubai]

One things for sure. Messi wont be busto enough to be doing Viagra commercials in 40years time

[pleno1]

Saw Messi live, was super underwhelmed.

[Royal Flush]

One things for sure. Messi wont be busto enough to be doing Viagra commercials in 40years time

We can't say the same about the crab though

[Dubai]

Id snap do it if i was still alive and viagra sorted me out

[Ironside]

No mention of Darren Mackie in this thread yet either. 

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