Is Messi Now Officially the Greatest Footballer in History?

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Pele, Maradona and Messi in any order are the greatest.

Pele perhaps the biggest and most athletic of the lot. Pele was a better header of the ball. His leap and ability to hang in the air was amazing. See first goal in 1970 world cup final.

Ronaldo was exceptional in the air.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

That’s why Maradona is untouchable. He played like that whilst absolutely off his bonce.

And during what was undoubtedly his best period in club football, when he was at Napoli, where he was imperious (in a seriously one footed sort of way ;-) )

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

It's a shame the proper Ronaldo had such a short career otherwise I'm sure he'd be up there too.
Anyway, good to see now Messi has added the WC to seven Ballons d'Or, four Champions Leagues, one Copa America, 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona and a Ligue 1 crown in France with Paris St-Germain he's getting the same media hype as some spotty 18 year old the rags have shoved in the first team too early.

 

[spanishcityfan]

Sí

 

[Tommy_Catons_Perm]

Ronaldo was exceptional in the air.

But not as good a player as Pele and unlikely to become a revered worldwide ambassador of football.

 

[spanishcityfan]

It already was before the match. now more

 

[spanishcityfan]

He surpasses everyone in everything. he is the best . the question is who is the second ???

 

[Stephen230]

It's a shame the proper Ronaldo had such a short career otherwise I'm sure he'd be up there too.
Anyway, good to see now Messi has added the WC to seven Ballons d'Or, four Champions Leagues, one Copa America, 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona and a Ligue 1 crown in France with Paris St-Germain he's getting the same media hype as some spotty 18 year old the rags have shoved in the first team too early.

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.

 

[ninjamonkey]

He already was but I'm glad it crushes that ridiculous "but he's not won the world cup" claim nobheads come out with.

 

[west didsblue]

He already was but I'm glad it crushes that ridiculous "but he's not won the world cup" claim nobheads come out with.

Meh. He’s not won it twice ;-)

 

[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.