Is Messi Now Officially the Greatest Footballer in History?

[JDV]

The only insult to football is your comment.
He may not be the greatest but there is a lot of people out there that think he is and I guarantee they know more about football than you and I

100%.

He went to a bottom of the table team in the Seria A, which was the strongest League back then, and turned Napoli into the best team in the competition as well as in Europe.

No one has ever accomplished this before and no one will again. And keep in mind he did this with so much instability off the field, it's just remarkable.

To doubt that he is not one of the all time greats is laughable.

 

[Dirty Harry]

I'm caught between Pele, Maradona and Messi.
All brilliant.
I was just replying to a poster that said Maradona was an insult to football.

And you were right to mate, ability wise there’s fuck all between Messi and Maradona, me I ever so slightly edge to Diego, but I totally get and have no problem with those who edge towards Messi, but to dismiss either as nowhere near the other is actually quite pitiful and shows a real lack of football knowledge.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Wot - no Vinnie!?

You're right. He was one of the best things in “Snatch”.

 

[theres only one carlito]

I'm caught between Pele, Maradona and Messi.
All brilliant.
I was just replying to a poster that said Maradona was an insult to football.

I never said any such thing,

I said declaring him the greatest is an insult.

The Facts are there for anyone to see. Pure footballing merit, skill, talent, longevity, impact, integrity and as a human. like it or not, Messi has it all.

Diego, for all his natural talent was a disgrace a lot of the time and was not around at the very top anywhere near as long as Messi. That’s just facts.

Let’s not forget that his self proclaimed ‘hand of god goal’ helped them to the 86 World Cup! He’s a cheat and a blatant one and in no way can he be compared to Messi. His lack of integrity throughout his career alone stops that.

And as for football knowledge?

Deary me.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

I think the other two will be even more in awe of him than they are already.
Still slightly wistful that he didn't come to the Etihad. Only slightly. It wasn't very realistic. But I'd just love to see him in that sky blue shirt.

Mbappe is in no way in awe of Messi. By all accounts there have been times where he ignores him around the club and sometimes purposely doesn’t pass to him during games.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

And as for football knowledge?

Deary me.

Thankfully "there's only one carlito"

 

[stonerblue]

The behaviour of Messi and Ronaldo during this world cup has settled the debate for me.
Ronaldo's childlike selfishness was evident in spades. Walking out alone after his teamates had been on the pitch for a while, personal 'tape man' and minders and fucking straight off when beat instead of helping the younger teammates cope with defeat.
Is Messi the 'best of all time''? Well that's up for further debate but he's certainly won the Ronaldo/Messi contest.

 

[Phil1]

Mbappe is in no way in awe of Messi. By all accounts there have been times where he ignores him around the club and sometimes purposely doesn’t pass to him during games.

He should be in awe the cheeky little shit.

 

[domalino]

He went to a bottom of the table team in the Seria A, which was the strongest League back then, and turned Napoli into the best team in the competition as well as in Europe.

No one has ever accomplished this before and no one will again. And keep in mind he did this with so much instability off the field, it's just remarkable.

Lying about what happened at Napoli doesn't make your argument stronger. No one will every accomplish what you described again for the simple reason it never happened in the first place.

Napoli were in the UEFA cup in 1983 after finishing 4th in 1982 and 3rd in 1981. They weren't a bottom of the table team in Serie A.

He went to Napoli because they broke the world record to sign him, and then they spent the same amount again on players to go around him. In modern day spending it's the equivalent of dropping £350m in one window.

More like Chelsea 2004/5 than Leicester City.

Sure it was a great achievement, but it certainly wasn't the story of a global superstar deciding to go to the worst club in the league and single handedly carrying them to victory.

As for the greatest side in Europe, they lost in the first round of the European Cup the one year he played in it for them, but did have an impressive win in the old UEFA/Europa League.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Mbappe is in no way in awe of Messi. By all accounts there have been times where he ignores him around the club and sometimes purposely doesn’t pass to him during games.

He should be in awe the cheeky little shit.

Actually if he does behave like that — and I admit it's the first I've heard of it — sometimes that kind of behaviour can be symptomatic of someone knowing they're inferior. And resenting it.