Is Messi Now Officially the Greatest Footballer in History?

[ZebraVicar]

Not bad.

 

[ZebraVicar]

Up there with the best.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

I watched that Bobby Robson documentary after one of the games the other night and I’d forgotten how good Ronaldo actually was. Especially during that one mental season at Barcelona. He still managed to squeeze in 98 Brazil caps aswell, which surprised me when I just looked it up.

Same here mate, superhuman that stuff at Barca utter disbelief and joy on Robson's face at times.

 

[unicorn]

Kick off

Maradona for me. Pele second, Cruyff

Watched the official documentary of the 86 world cup this morning (brilliant viewing, pure 80s aesthetic, Michael Kane narrating) and for me Maradona is still the pinnacle


(See the post above saying Maradon doesn’t create like Messi…
Watch the 86 World Cup. He pretty much made every Argentinian goal he didn’t score himself)

There's a video on you tube showing his every touch in that 86 semi final. He dominates that match. Astonishing watch.

Messi dominated that final today.

 

[bluethrunthru]

silly debate - its like the pound for pound fighter debate or the best racehorse in time debate - I'd frame it as best of an era and whilst I'd have leaned towards Ronaldo because he has done it in a few leagues as Messi has won everything - and tonight he won it - I'd give the player of the era to Messi for that

 

[WNRH]

Nobody will ever come close to...
View attachment 63903

 

[citymad]

I agree Maradona was great but no one compares to Messi. So consistently brilliant and now a World Cup winner.

 

[citytill1die84]

Those stats are way off.

Messi has played about 1000 matches. He has 700 club goals and 98 international goals and around 340 assists.

You are correct. I remembered him getting his 700th goal as well think those 1 set of stats were league goals for Barcelona.

Anywau 701 goals 333 assists wowzer

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

silly debate - its like the pound for pound fighter debate or the best racehorse in time debate - I'd frame it as best of an era and whilst I'd have leaned towards Ronaldo because he has done it in a few leagues as Messi has won everything - and tonight he won it - I'd give the player of the era to Messi for that

I don’t really think it’s silly as a debate — it’s an interesting discussion with no clear cut answer! It’s silly to demand one maybe. The debate part is fun. Same as in boxing.

However, the racehorse debate IS silly because it’s Secretariat. No other horse, not even Man O’ War, or Phar Lap, or Frankel could have ever competed with him from any era, and that’s a near-scientific fact as proven by his autopsy.

 

[ilrm]

Prior to the World Cup I felt that Messi was the better player (same scoring rate as CR7 but twice the number of assists) but Ronaldo had the better career (CL, top-scorer & POTY in multiple leagues).
Now I feel that Messi has surpassed Ronaldo even career-wise as the WC is the ultimate football trophy every kid dreams of winning, and he won it while also winning the Golden Ball.

In terms of overall greatness:
Tier 1: Pele, Messi
Tier 2: Maradona
Tier 3: CR7, Di Stefano, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Neuer, Eusebio
Tier 4: Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo Nazario, Maldini, Platini, Xavi, Buffon, Gerd Muller, Matthaus, Rijkaard, etc.