Just how good is Messi?
Discussion
Having watched him against Arsenal last night and his consistency over the last few season, I find it scary how good Lionel Messi is.
An unbelivable stat I heard yesterday was that he had netted 46 goals in 40 games this season and is the highest scorer in the Champions League for the third season running.
How does Messi compare to the true greats of the game? Pele, Maradona and Zidane.
Can he only be considered one of the greatest ever if he wins a world cup?
Would he be able to take a team who are treading water and turn them in to world beaters, like Maradona did with Napoli. Is he that good?
An unbelivable stat I heard yesterday was that he had netted 46 goals in 40 games this season and is the highest scorer in the Champions League for the third season running.
How does Messi compare to the true greats of the game? Pele, Maradona and Zidane.
Can he only be considered one of the greatest ever if he wins a world cup?
Would he be able to take a team who are treading water and turn them in to world beaters, like Maradona did with Napoli. Is he that good?
I love watching him and think he is probably the best in the world at the moment, BUT, i would love to see him become the best in the Premier league like Ronaldo did. Ronaldo has proven himself in both leagues, as good as Barca are, La Liga is very poor, with the bottom 6 perhaps only good enough to play in the English Championship. But yeah, 46 odd goals is not to be sniffed at.
I'd also like to see him do it on the world stage, he was so disappointing like a lot of superstars last summer. Until he wins Argentina World cup or does something on the world stage, i dont think hes quite at the same level of greatness as Pele, Maradonna, ZZ...
I'd also like to see him do it on the world stage, he was so disappointing like a lot of superstars last summer. Until he wins Argentina World cup or does something on the world stage, i dont think hes quite at the same level of greatness as Pele, Maradonna, ZZ...
He's an amazing player and has a truly sublime skill level...as others have said he is playing in a team which has some other incredibly talented players...Iniesta's footwork (after Fabregas had given him the ball) and the threaded pass to set up Messi for the first goal last night were the work of someone equally talented. I think this Barca team are exceptional because like all great teams they are greater than the sum of their parts...and Messi is the key part of that. I don't think he'll ever see him play for another club but he has certainly struggled to transform his Barca form when he has pulled on the Argentina shirt. Having said all that I reckon if Barca had to sell one of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi I reckon they might keep the other two....
andyjo1982 said:
I'd also like to see him do it on the world stage, he was so disappointing like a lot of superstars last summer. Until he wins Argentina World cup or does something on the world stage, i dont think hes quite at the same level of greatness as Pele, Maradonna, ZZ...
i dis-agree, i think he was awesome in the world cup, maybe not as good as he is when he plays for barcelona but i think thats due to the fact that the players in the Argentina squad just dont match up to Xavi Iniesta etc. when messi is firing on all cylinders so to speak he's just un-playable, watching the match yesterday there were times when he was surrounded by three arsenal players and hed still manage to get away or play the killer pass. Marradona said himself that messi is much better then he ever was which tells you all you need to know really. im probably one of the few football fans who think Cristiano Ronaldo is the better footballer however. hes scored 53 goals in 55 appearances. talk about consistency! Edited by Taz46 on Wednesday 9th March 13:20
Taz46 said:
andyjo1982 said:
I'd also like to see him do it on the world stage, he was so disappointing like a lot of superstars last summer. Until he wins Argentina World cup or does something on the world stage, i dont think hes quite at the same level of greatness as Pele, Maradonna, ZZ...
i dis-agree, i think he was awesome in the world cup, maybe not as good as he is when he plays for barcelona but i think thats due to the fact that the players in the Argentina squad just dont match up to Xavi Iniesta etc. when messi is firing on all cylinders so to speak he's just un-playable, watching the match yesterday there were times when he was surrounded by three arsenal players and hed still manage to get away or play the killer pass. Marradona said himself that messi is much better then he ever was which tells you all you need to know really. im probably one of the few football fans who think Cristiano Ronaldo is the better footballer however. hes scored 53 goals in 55 appearances. talk about consistency! Edited by Taz46 on Wednesday 9th March 13:20
If Messi had been born over here , he probably wouldn't have lasted. He'd be classed as too small for English football. The main reason he's at Barcelona is that they agreed to pay for his growth hormone treatment otherwise he'd probably still be under 5 foot.
I'd say he's more of a team player than Christiano Ronaldo. When I see Messi playing with his quick feet and even quicker mind , I think he's like the galloping Major Puskas.
I'd say he's more of a team player than Christiano Ronaldo. When I see Messi playing with his quick feet and even quicker mind , I think he's like the galloping Major Puskas.
Just my opinion, perhaps i expected too much, i dunno, but when i watched the Argies they looked good for the first few games, he played alright without being brilliant, then the Germans blew them away. That game sticks in my head, because Germany played very well and when the Argies needed an outlet, a spark, someone to do something and give them half chance, Messi didn't step up. However, just watched some highlights from last night as i was at a game myself. How good was Iniesta? He is class too, its 2 different positions, so difficult to judge, but in their respective positions, they are the best in the world currently. Messi's finish last night for the first was brilliant. There are very few players ever who can naturally finish so well, it is so good to watch.
I was literally up and out of my chair watching that Xavi goal against Arsenal. The angles and touches had to be seen to be believed. Messi is sublime - the ball never leaves his foot more than 6in in those dribbles - his feet are so quick. But he doesn't look all abs and pouting like Ronaldo ... so different.
When it came to the penalty I've not seen onc put away like that for a long time. Pure class. Keepers have to one way or the other. Aluminium *still* did neither he was that confused. Magical.
Messi's passes for the David SIlva goals v Real Madrid earlier this season in the 5-0 drubbing were out of this world, angle - weightof pass, perfect. And when he gets knocked over, kicked etc - he just gets up and gets on with it. unlike the pouting, preening gay icon in the white shirt ...
When it came to the penalty I've not seen onc put away like that for a long time. Pure class. Keepers have to one way or the other. Aluminium *still* did neither he was that confused. Magical.
Messi's passes for the David SIlva goals v Real Madrid earlier this season in the 5-0 drubbing were out of this world, angle - weightof pass, perfect. And when he gets knocked over, kicked etc - he just gets up and gets on with it. unlike the pouting, preening gay icon in the white shirt ...
He's pretty bloody awesome IMO.
It's worth remembering though, that I believe he's in what could be considered the greatest team ever at the moment. Definately comparable with the AC Milan of van Basten, Gullit et al, and other great sides.
His finishing is still sublime, but he's getting a s
t load of chances due to how good the whole team is, hell, I think i'd get 20 a season in that team 
It's worth remembering though, that I believe he's in what could be considered the greatest team ever at the moment. Definately comparable with the AC Milan of van Basten, Gullit et al, and other great sides.
His finishing is still sublime, but he's getting a s
t load of chances due to how good the whole team is, hell, I think i'd get 20 a season in that team 
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